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Abstract: We study diffuse gamma-ray emission at intermediate Galactic latitudes measured by the Fermi Large Area Telescope with the aim of searching for a signal from dark matter annihilation or decay. In the absence of a robust dark matter signal, constraints are presented. We set both, conservative dark matter limits requiring that the dark matter signal does not exceed the observed diffuse gamma-ray emission and limits derived based on modeling the foreground astrophysical diffuse emission. Uncertainties in several parameters which characterize conventional astrophysical emission are taken into account using a profile likelihood formalism. The resulting limits impact the range of particle masses over which dark matter thermal production in the early Universe is possible, and challenge the interpretation of the PAMELA/Fermi-LAT cosmic ray anomalies as annihilation of dark matter.
Keywords: gamma rays, Galactic diffuse emission, dark matter serach
Published in RUNG: 03.05.2016; Views: 4398; Downloads: 0
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Abstract: The class of ‘Asymmetric Dark Matter’ scenarios relies on the existence of a primordial particle/anti-particle asymmetry in the dark sector related to the baryon asymmetry as a way to address the observed similarity between the baryonic and dark matter energy densities today. Focusing on this framework we calculate the evolution of the dark matter relic abundance in the presence of particle/anti-particle oscillations. We show how oscillations reopen the parameter space of asymmetric dark matter models, in particular in the direction of allowing large (WIMP-scale) DM masses. Finally, we constrain the parameter space in this framework by applying up-to-date bounds from indirect detection signals on annihilating DM.
Keywords: dark matter, early universe
Published in RUNG: 23.03.2016; Views: 4584; Downloads: 0
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Abstract: The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will have a unique chance of discovery for a large range of masses in Weakly Interacting Massive Particles models of dark matter. The principal target for dark matter searches with CTA is the centre of the Galactic Halo. The best strategy is to perform CTA observations within a few degrees of the Galactic Centre, with the Galactic Centre itself and the most intense diffuse emission regions removed from the analysis. Assuming a cuspy dark matter density profile for the Milky Way, 500 hours of observations in this region provide sensitivities to and below the thermal cross-section of dark matter annihilations, for masses between a few hundred GeV and a few tens of TeV; therefore CTA will have a significant chance of discovery in some models. Since the dark matter density in the Milky Way is far from certain in the inner kpc region, other targets are also proposed for observation, like ultra-faint dwarf galaxies such as Segue 1 with 100 hours per year proposed. Beyond these two observational targets, further alternatives, such as Galactic dark clumps, will be considered closer to the actual date of CTA operations. Sensitivity predictions for dark matter searches are given on the various targets taking into account the latest instrument response functions expected for CTA together with a discussion on the systematic uncertainties from the backgrounds.
Keywords: dark matter, gamma-ray astronomy
Published in RUNG: 01.03.2016; Views: 4657; Downloads: 230
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