WIMP Dark Matter and the First Stars

If weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) constitute the bulk of dark matter (DM), energy from the self-annihilation of these particles can affect Population III (Pop III) star formation via two mechanisms. Before the protostar forms, energy from DM annihilations can couple to primordial gas chemistry and slightly alter the properties of the cloud without, however, inducing dramatic changes in the final mass of the star. Later, scattering between WIMPs and baryons within the protostar can in principle congregate enough DM for annihilations, rather than nuclear reactions, to support the star against gravity. In these proceedings I briefly summarize the state of the art of the field, as well the prospects for observing such stars.