  We show that a star orbiting close enough to an adiabatically grown
supermassive black hole can capture a large number of weakly interacting
massive particles (WIMPs) during its lifetime. WIMP annihilation energy release
in low- to medium-mass stars is comparable with or even exceeds the luminosity
of such stars due to thermonuclear burning. The excessive energy release in the
stellar core may result in an evolution scenario different from what is
expected for a regular star. The model thus predicts the existence of unusual
stars within the central parsec of galactic nuclei. If found, such stars would
provide evidence for the existence of particle dark matter. White dwarfs seem
to be the most promising candidates to look for. The signature of a white dwarf
burning WIMPs would be a very hot star with mass and radius characteristic for
a white dwarf, but with luminosity exceeding the typical luminosity of a white
dwarf by orders of magnitude <50L_sun. A white dwarf with a highly eccentric
orbit around the central black hole may exhibit variations in brightness
correlated with the orbital phase.
