This work presents a novel study of the effects of asymmetric dark matter (DM) on the dynamics and gravitational wave (GW) signatures of binary neutron star mergers. We leverage cutting-edge numerical relativity simulations, employing a recently developed framework for DM-admixed neutron stars (DMNSs). This comprehensive approach allows us to not only analyze the emitted GW signal but also to meticulously examine the dynamical behavior of the ejected material throughout the merger and beyond. By systematically varying both the DM particle mass and its mass fraction within the simulations, we focus on how the presence of DM impacts the fate of the post-merger remnant, as a massive neutron star or its collapse to a black hole. Our primary focus lies on identifying deviations in the GW signal and the properties of the ejecta when compared to scenarios involving standard neutron star mergers. This research endeavors to establish a crucial link between the DM properties and the combined signatures of GWs and ejecta. Consequently, it offers a powerful tool for constraining the nature of dark matter through future multi-messenger observations of binary neutron star mergers.
Organized by: Catarina Cosme