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  • Open Access

Dark branches of immortal stars at the Galactic Center

Isabelle John1,*, Rebecca K. Leane2,3,†, and Tim Linden1,‡

  • *Contact author: isabelle.john@fysik.su.se
  • †Contact author: rleane@slac.stanford.edu
  • ‡Contact author: linden@fysik.su.se
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Phys. Rev. D 112, 023028 – Published 18 July, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.112.023028

Abstract

We show that stars in the inner parsec of the Milky Way can be significantly affected by dark matter annihilation, producing population-level effects that are visible in a Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram. We establish the dark HR diagram, where stars lie on a new stable dark main sequence with similar luminosities, but lower temperatures, than the standard main sequence. The dark matter density in these stars continuously replenishes, granting these stars immortality and solving multiple stellar anomalies. Upcoming telescopes could detect the dark main sequence, offering a new dark matter discovery avenue.

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Phys. Rev. D 112, 023028– Published 18 July, 2025
  • Received 29 May 2024
  • Revised 22 November 2024
  • Accepted 9 May 2025
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