Fermionic Dark Matter Research Articles

Extended scotogenic model of neutrino mass and proton decay

The current article presents an extension of the classical scotogenic neutrino mass paradigm, where the three issues in particle physics: dark matter, smallness of neutrino mass, and stability of the proton are interconnected. The scenario encompasses the neutrino mass as well as the proton decay as a consequence of an existence of the dark matter. The study successfully achieves the correlation between the naturally small neutrino masses and naturally long proton lifetime in the present paradigm. Furthermore, all relevant cosmological, collider, and flavor physics constraints are incorporated in the detailed analysis. The scotogenic fermionic dark matter with the mass in the range from 100 GeV to 10 TeV successfully satisfies all relevant constraints. The valid range of 2.51×10−5<λ<2×10−3 is obtained for the 2HDM λ coupling. We give a brief discussion, as well as outline some of the future prospects. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Constraints on simplified dark matter models involving an s-channel mediator with the ATLAS detector in pp collisions at s=13\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sqrt{s} = 13$$\\end{document} TeV

This paper reports a summary of searches for a fermionic dark matter candidate in the context of theoretical models characterised by a mediator particle exchange in the s-channel. The data sample considered consists of pp collisions delivered by the Large Hadron Collider during its Run 2 at a centre-of-mass energy of s=13TeV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sqrt{s} = 13\\,\ extrm{TeV}$$\\end{document} and recorded by the ATLAS detector, corresponding to up to 140 fb-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{-1}$$\\end{document}. The interpretations of the results are based on simplified models where the new mediator particles can be spin-0, with scalar or pseudo-scalar couplings to fermions, or spin-1, with vector or axial-vector couplings to fermions. Exclusion limits are obtained from various searches characterised by final states with resonant production of Standard Model particles, or production of Standard Model particles in association with large missing transverse momentum.

Searching accretion-enhanced dark matter annihilation signals in the Galactic Centre

This study reanalyzes the detection prospects of dark matter (DM) annihilation signals in the Galactic Center, focusing on velocity-dependent dynamics within a spike density near the supermassive black hole (Sgr A⋆). We investigate three annihilation processes — p-wave, resonance, and forbidden annihilation — under semi-relativistic velocities, leveraging gamma-ray data from Fermi and DAMPE telescopes. Our analysis integrates a fermionic DM model with an electroweak axion-like particle (ALP) portal, exploring annihilation into two or four photons. Employing a comprehensive six-dimensional integration, we precisely calculate DM-induced gamma-ray fluxes near Sgr A⋆, incorporating velocity and positional dependencies in the annihilation cross-section and photon yield spectra. Our findings highlight scenarios of resonance and forbidden annihilation, where the larger ALP-DM-DM coupling constant Caχχ can affect spike density, potentially yielding detectable gamma-ray line spectra within Fermi and DAMPE energy resolution. We set upper limits for Caχχ across these scenarios, offering insights into the detectability and spectral characteristics of DM annihilation signals from the Galactic Center.

Indirect Detection for Higgs Portal Majorana Fermionic Dark Matter

Abstract We study the $\gamma$-ray signal emitted from dark matter (DM) pair annihilation in the Higgs portal Majorana fermion DM model. In the model, a Majorana fermion DM $\chi$ couples with the Standard Model (SM) Higgs field $H$ through a higher-dimensional term $-{\cal L}\supset H^\dagger H \bar{\chi }\chi /\Lambda$, where $\Lambda$ is a cutoff scale [1]. The pair annihilation of $\chi$ through the above term produces the Higgs boson and the longitudinal modes of $W,Z$ gauge bosons. The Milky Way dwarf spheroidal satellite galaxies (dSphs) are used as the most promising targets to search for the $\gamma$-ray signal of the model, due to high DM density and lack of astrophysical backgrounds. The Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT) is used for the search, for its high sensitivity [2]. In this work, we use 14-year Fermi-LAT data from 16 dSphs, to constrain the DM pair annihilation cross section for the DM mass range from 125 GeV to 100 TeV.

Dark matter from anomaly cancellation at the LHC

We discuss a class of theories that predict a fermionic dark matter candidate from gauge anomaly cancellation. As an explicit example, we study the predictions in theories where the global symmetry associated with baryon number is promoted to a local gauge symmetry. In this context, the symmetry-breaking scale has to be below the multi-TeV scale in order to be in agreement with the cosmological constraints on the dark matter relic density. The new physical “Cucuyo” Higgs boson in the theory has very interesting properties, decaying mainly into two photons in the low mass region, and mainly into dark matter in the intermediate mass region. We study the most important signatures at the Large Hadron Collider, evaluating the experimental bounds. We discuss the correlation between the dark matter relic density, direct detection, and collider constraints. We find that these theories are still viable and are susceptible to being probed in current, and future high-luminosity, running. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Exploring constraints on Simplified Dark Matter model through flavour and electroweak observables

This study focuses on a combined analysis of various available inputs to constrain the parameter spaces of a simplified dark matter (SDM) model featuring a spin-0 mediator and fermionic dark matter (DM). The spin-0 mediator interacts with standard model (SM) fermions, SM gauge bosons, and DM. We constrain the parameter spaces of different relevant couplings, DM mass, and the mediator mass, using the data from flavour-changing charged and neutral current processes, CKM matrices, W and Z-pole observables, DM relic density, direct and indirect detection bounds. We have calculated bounds on the couplings from both separate and simultaneous analyses of the mentioned processes. We identify correlated parameter spaces for all the relevant parameters which include the couplings and the masses. For the DM and mediator masses, we have scanned the region between 100 GeV and 1000 GeV. Using our results, we have obtained bounds on the couplings of possible higher dimensional operators from which we can formulate our SDM.

Effects of dark matter on the spontaneous scalarization in neutron stars

Dark matter, an important portion of compact objects, can influence different phenomena in neutron stars. The spontaneous scalarization in the scalar-tensor gravity has been proposed for neutron stars. Here, we investigate the spontaneous scalarization in dark matter admixed neutron stars. Applying the dark matter equations of state, we calculate the structure of scalarized neutron stars containing dark matter. The dark matter equations of state are based on observational data from the rotational curves of galaxies and the fermionic self-interacting dark matter. Our results verify that the spontaneous scalarization is affected by the dark matter pressure in neutron stars. Depending on the central density of scalarized dark matter admixed neutron stars, the dark matter pressure alters the central scalar field. The increase of dark matter pressure in low-density scalarized stars amplifies the central scalar field. However, the pressure of dark matter in high-density scalarized stars suppresses the central scalar field. Our calculations confirm that the stars in the merger event GW170817 and in the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1820-30 can be scalarized dark matter admixed neutron stars.

Singlet–doublet Dirac Fermion dark matter from Peccei–Quinn symmetry

Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) and axions are arguably the most compelling dark matter (DM) candidates in the literature. Here, we consider a model where the Peccei–Quinn (PQ) symmetry solves the strong CP problem, generates radiatively Dirac neutrino masses and gives origin to a multicomponent dark sector. Specifically, scotogenic Dirac neutrino masses arise at one-loop level. The lightest fermionic mediator acts as the second DM candidate due to a residual [Formula: see text] symmetry resulting from the PQ symmetry breaking. The WIMP DM component resembles the well-known singlet–doublet fermion DM. While the lower WIMP dark mass region is usually excluded, our model reopens that portion of the parameter space (for DM masses below [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]GeV). Therefore, we perform a phenomenological analysis that addresses the constraints from direct searches of DM, neutrino oscillation data and charged lepton flavor violating processes. The model can be tested in future facilities where neutrino telescopes search for DM annihilation into Standard Model particles.

Neutrino mass model and dark matter with Y = 0 inert triplet scalar

We study a one-loop induced neutrino mass model with an inert isospin triplet scalar field of Y=0 and heavier isospin doublet vector-like leptons and singlet Majorana right-handed fermions. In addition to the neutrino mass matrix, we explain sizable scale of muon anomalous magnetic dipole moment 10−9 by introducing a singly-charged boson S±. We show numerical analysis of neutrino oscillation, lepton flavor violations, Z boson decays, and demonstrate our allowed regions in cases of normal and inverted hierarchies. We find the sizable scale of muon anomalous magnetic dipole moment for both cases. Then, we move on to the discussion of dark matter candidates to satisfy the relic density where we have two candidates; fermionic dark matter and bosonic one. And, we classify four cases fermionic dark matter with normal and inverted hierarchies, bosonic one with normal and inverted hierarchies and search for each of the allowed points in the model.

A complex singlet extension of the Standard Model with a singlet fermion dark matter

We examine a complex singlet scalar extension of the Standard Model (CxSM) with an extra singlet fermion. Both the singlet scalar and fermion are dark matter (DM) candidates. It is known that although the scalar potential in the CxSM can realize strong first-order electroweak phase transition, the scalar DM included in the model gives only a tiny amount of the relic density compared to the observed one. Therefore, a fermion DM is introduced to compensate for the lack of relic density. We find that the scattering of the fermion DM and nucleons is sufficiently suppressed when the masses of scalar mediators are degenerate, as is the case of the scalar DM. We show the range of a combination of the mass and the Yukawa coupling of the fermion DM, which satisfies both the observed relic density and conditions of strong first-order electroweak phase transition.

Imaging fermionic dark matter cores at the centre of galaxies

ABSTRACT Current images of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) candidates at the centre of our Galaxy and M87 have opened an unprecedented era for studying strong gravity and the nature of relativistic sources. Very-long-baseline interferometry data show images consistent with a central SMBH within General Relativity (GR). However, it is essential to consider whether other well-motivated dark compact objects within GR could produce similar images. Recent studies have shown that dark matter (DM) haloes modelled as self-gravitating systems of neutral fermions can harbour very dense fermionic cores at their centres, which can mimic the space–time features of a black hole (BH). Such dense, horizonless DM cores can satisfy the observational constraints: they can be supermassive and compact and lack a hard surface. We investigate whether such cores can produce similar observational signatures to those of BHs when illuminated by an accretion disc. We compute images and spectra of the fermion cores with a general-relativistic ray tracing technique, assuming the radiation originates from standard $\alpha$ discs, which are self-consistently solved within the current DM framework. Our simulated images possess a central brightness depression surrounded by a ring-like feature, resembling what is expected in the BH scenario. For Milky Way-like haloes, the central brightness depressions have diameters down to ${\sim} 35\, \mu \text{as}$ as measured from a distance of approximately $8\,$ kpc. Finally, we show that the DM cores do not possess photon rings, a key difference from the BH paradigm, which could help discriminate between the models.

Incoherent fermionic dark matter absorption with nucleon Fermi motion

We investigate the incoherent regime of the fermionic dark matter absorption by nuclei using the relativistic Fermi gas model and nuclear form factors. With the momentum transfer being roughly equal to the dark matter mass mχ, the incoherent regime contributes significantly to the absorption process for mχ≳100 MeV with a spin-independent operator and for even smaller mass with a spin-dependent one. We also compare the situations for various target nuclei (Xe131, Ge72, Ar40, Ne20, and He4) that are typically used in the dark matter direct detection. A heavier nucleus actually has the advantage of probing the incoherent scattering of the fermionic absorption dark matter. Observing both the coherent and incoherent contributions would be an important justification of the fermionic dark matter absorption. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

CLFV leptophilic Z′\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Z^\\prime $$\\end{document} as a dark matter portal: prospects for colliders

Extensions of the Standard Model featuring light vector bosons have been explored with the goal of resolving certain tensions between theory and experiment, among them the discrepancy in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, Δaμ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\Delta a_{\\mu }$$\\end{document}. In particular, this is the case of a minimal construction including a leptophilic, strictly flavour violating, vector boson Z′\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Z^\\prime $$\\end{document}. These new vector bosons are also well-motivated dark matter portals, with non-trivial couplings to stable, weakly interacting states which can account for the correct dark matter density. Here we study the prospects of a Standard Model extension (via a vector boson and a fermionic dark matter candidate) concerning signatures at the LHC, and at future lepton and hadron colliders. We discuss the cross-sections of several processes leading to same- and opposite-sign muon-tau lepton pairs in the final state, as well as final states with missing energy (in the form of neutrinos and/or dark matter). Our findings suggest that a future muon collider offers the best prospects to probe this model (together with searches for dilepton pairs and missing energy signatures at the FCC-ee running at the Z-pole); moreover, the complementarity of the different future high-energy colliders is also paramount to probing distinct Z′\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Z^\\prime $$\\end{document} mass regimes.

Probing Inert Triplet Model at a multi-TeV muon collider via vector boson fusion with forward muon tagging

This study investigates the potential of a multi-TeV Muon Collider (MuC) for probing the Inert Triplet Model (ITM), which introduces a triplet scalar field with hypercharge Y = 0 to the Standard Model. The ITM stands out as a compelling Beyond the Standard Model scenario, featuring a neutral triplet T0 and charged triplets T±. Notably, T0 is posited as a dark matter (DM) candidate, being odd under a Z2 symmetry. Rigorous evaluations against theoretical, collider, and DM experimental constraints corner the triplet scalar mass to a narrow TeV-scale region, within which three benchmark points are identified, with T± masses of 1.21 TeV, 1.68 TeV, and 3.86 TeV, for the collider study. The ITM’s unique TTVV four-point vertex, differing from fermionic DM models, facilitates efficient pair production through Vector Boson Fusion (VBF). This characteristic positions the MuC as an ideal platform for exploring the ITM, particularly due to the enhanced VBF cross-sections at high collision energies. To address the challenge of the soft decay products of T± resulting from the narrow mass gap between T± and T0, we propose using Disappearing Charged Tracks (DCTs) from T± and Forward muons as key signatures. We provide event counts for these signatures at MuC energies of 6 TeV and 10 TeV, with respective luminosities of 4 ab−1 and 10 ab−1. Despite the challenge of beam-induced backgrounds contaminating the signal, we demonstrate that our proposed final states enable the MuC to achieve a 5σ discovery for the identified benchmark points, particularly highlighting the effectiveness of the final state with one DCT and one Forward muon.

A study on vector mediator top-philic dark matter

We conducted a study on a simplified dark matter model that introduces a vector-like intermediate particle, facilitating exclusive interactions between dark matter and the top quark in the Standard Model. The analysis focused on the relic density of Dirac-type fermion dark matter and highlighted the complementary role of direct detection in constraining the dark matter model. Notably, in instances when dark matter mass is small, the tree-level two-body annihilation process experiences suppression. In such scenarios, the contributions of the three-body process ( χχ¯→tb¯W− ) and the one-loop process ( χχ¯→gg ) dominate the relic abundance. With regard to direct detection, calculations were performed for the two-loop contribution to the dark-matter–gluon interaction, yielding the corresponding spin-independent scattering cross section.

Radial Oscillations of Strange Quark Stars Admixed with Dark Matter

We investigate the equilibrium structure and radial oscillations of strange quark stars admixed with fermionic dark matter. For strange quark matter, we employ a stiff equation of state from a color-superconductivity improved bag model. For dark matter, we adopt the cold free Fermi gas model. We rederive and numerically solve the radial oscillation equations of two-fluid stars based on general relativity, in which the dark matter and strange quark matter couple through gravity and oscillate with the same frequency. Our results show that the stellar maximum mass and radius are reduced by inclusion of dark matter. As to the fundamental mode of the radial oscillations, the frequency f0 is also reduced comparing to pure strange stars, and f02 reaches the zero point at the maximum stellar mass with dM/dϵq,c=0. Therefore, the stability criteria f02>0 and dM/dϵq,c>0 are consistent in our dark matter-mixed strange quark stars with a fixed fraction of dark matter. We also find a discontinuity of f0 as functions of the stellar mass, in contrast to the continuous function in pure strange stars. And it is also accompanied with discontinuity of the oscillation amplitudes as well as a discontinuous in-phase-to-out-phase transition between oscillations of dark matter and strange quark matter.

Deciphering the Belle II data on B→Kνν¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ B\ o K\ u \\overline{\ u} $$\\end{document} decay in the (dark) SMEFT with minimal flavour violation

Recently, the Belle II collaboration announced the first measurement of the branching ratio BB+→K+νν¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{B}\\left({B}^{+}\ o {K}^{+}\ u \\overline{\ u}\\right) $$\\end{document}, which is found to be about 2.7σ higher than the Standard Model (SM) prediction. We decipher the data with two new physics scenarios: the underlying quark-level b→sνν¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ b\ o s\ u \\overline{\ u} $$\\end{document} transition is, besides the SM contribution, further affected by heavy new mediators that are much heavier than the electroweak scale, or amended by an additional decay channel with undetected light final states like dark matter or axion-like particles. These two scenarios can be most conveniently analyzed in the SM effective field theory (SMEFT) and the dark SMEFT (DSMEFT) framework, respectively. We consider the flavour structures of the resulting effective operators to be either generic or satisfy the minimal flavour violation (MFV) hypothesis, both for the quark and lepton sectors. In the first scenario, once the MFV assumption is made, only one SM-like low-energy effective operator induced by the SMEFT dimension-six operators can account for the Belle II excess, whose parameter space is, however, excluded by the Belle upper bound of the branching ratio BB0→K∗0νν¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{B}\\left({B}^0\ o {K}^{\\ast 0}\ u \\overline{\ u}\\right) $$\\end{document}. In the second scenario, it is found that the Belle II excess can be accommodated by 22 of the DSMEFT operators involving one or two scalar, fermionic, or vector dark matters as well as axion-like particles. These operators also receive dominant constraints from the B0 → K*0 + inv and Bs → inv decays. Once the MFV hypothesis is assumed, the number of viable operators is reduced to 14, and the B+ → π+ + inv and K+ → π+ + inv decays start to put further constraints on them. Within the parameter space allowed by all the current experimental data, the q2 distributions of the B → K(*) + inv decays are then studied for each viable operator. We find that the resulting prediction of the operator Qqχ=q¯pγμqrχ¯γμχ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ {\\mathcal{Q}}_{q\\chi}=\\left({\\overline{q}}_p{\\gamma}_{\\mu }{q}_r\\right)\\left(\\overline{\\chi}{\\gamma}^{\\mu}\\chi \\right) $$\\end{document} with a fermionic dark matter mass mχ ≈ 700 MeV can closely match the Belle II event distribution in the bins 2 ≤ q2 ≤ 7 GeV2. In addition, we, for the first time, calculate systematically the longitudinal polarization fraction FL of K* in the B → K* + inv decays within the DLEFT. By combining the decay spectra and FL, almost all the DSMEFT operators are found to be distinguishable from each other. Finally, the future prospects at Belle II, CEPC and FCC-ee are also discussed for some of these FCNC processes.

Constraints on the dark sector from electroweak precision observables

We revisit the standard model fit to electroweak precision observables (EWPO) using the latest data and the particle data group value of the mass of the W boson. This analysis is repeated for the value reported by CDF. The constraints on the parameter space for dark photons arising from these EWPO are then evaluated for both values of the W boson mass. We also extend previous work by placing the first electroweak precision observable constraints on the coupling of dark photons to the fermionic dark matter sector.

First Search for Dark-Trident Processes Using the MicroBooNE Detector

We present a first search for dark-trident scattering in a neutrino beam using a dataset corresponding to 7.2×1020 protons on target taken with the MicroBooNE detector at Fermilab. Proton interactions in the neutrino target at the main injector produce π0 and η mesons, which could decay into dark-matter (DM) particles mediated via a dark photon A′. A convolutional neural network is trained to identify interactions of the DM particles in the liquid-argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) exploiting its imagelike reconstruction capability. In the absence of a DM signal, we provide limits at the 90% confidence level on the squared kinematic mixing parameter ϵ2 as a function of the dark-photon mass in the range 10≤MA′≤400 MeV. The limits cover previously unconstrained parameter space for the production of fermion or scalar DM particles χ for two benchmark models with mass ratios Mχ/MA′=0.6 and 2 and for dark fine-structure constants 0.1≤αD≤1. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

The Effect of a Dark Matter Core on the Structure of a Rotating Neutron Star

Neutron stars represent unique laboratories, offering insights into the physics of supranuclear-density matter and serving as potential hosts for dark matter. This study explores the impact of dark matter cores on rapidly rotating neutron stars through the two-fluid approximation, assuming minimal interaction between baryonic matter and dark matter. The investigation employs phenomenological models for fermionic and bosonic dark matter, revealing that universal relations governing mass and radius changes due to rotation remain largely unaffected in the presence of a dark matter core. Specifically, for a 5% dark matter mass fraction, the percent deviations in total mass (M tot), the baryonic equatorial radius (R Be), and polar-to-equatorial baryonic radius ratio (R ratioB) are within 3.9%, 1.8%, and 1.4%, respectively. These findings suggest that the universal relations governing neutron star shape can be utilized to infer constraints on the properties of dark matter cores even in cases where the dark matter significantly softens the neutron star’s equation of state.