Dark Matter Accumulation Effects on Exoplanet Habitability

Leane & Smirnov (2022) show that dark matter can accumulate near celestial body surfaces, enhancing local densities. This research would synthesize this with exoplanet habitability models, exploring how dark matter annihilation or scattering in exoplanet atmospheres affects temperature, radiation, and chemistry. For instance, ultralight dark matter (Sen & Smirnov 2023) could induce periodic energy deposition, mimicking stellar activity. Unlike conventional habitability studies (e.g., FORECASTOR surveys), this would integrate dark matter distribution profiles into atmospheric escape models (e.g., using tools like Exo-Transmit). The idea is novel because it treats dark matter as an active environmental factor—not just a gravitational influence—potentially explaining anomalous exoplanet spectra (e.g., unexpected heating in "cold Jupiters"). This bridges cosmology (dark matter properties) and exoplanet science (habitability), a synthesis rarely explored.

References:

1. Refractive neutrino masses, ultralight dark matter and cosmology. M. Sen, A. Smirnov (2023). Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
2. Floating dark matter in celestial bodies. R. K. Leane, J. Smirnov (2022). Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
3. FORECASTOR. I. Finding Optics Requirements and Exposure Times for the Cosmological Advanced Survey Telescope for Optical and UV Research Mission. Isaac Cheng, T. Woods, P. Cot'e, Jennifer Glover, Dhananjhay Bansal, Melissa Amenouche, Madeline A. Marshall, Laurie Amen, John Hutchings, Laura Ferrarese, K. Venn, Michael Balogh, S. Blouin, R. Cloutier, N. Dickson, S. Gallagher, Martin Hellmich, V. Hénault-Brunet, V. Khatu, C. Lawlor-Forsyth, Cameron Morgan, Harvey Richer, M. Sawicki, R. Sorba (2024). Astronomical Journal.