Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dmap.conf..255j&link_type=abstract
DARK MATTER IN ASTROPHYSICS AND PARTICLE PHYSICS . Proceedings of the 7th International Heidelberg Conference on Dark 2009 . Hel
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
We discuss the possibilities for the indirect detection of dark matter annihilation with astronomical observations at X-ray and gamma-ray frequencies. In particular, we describe two studies. First, we use recent X-ray observations of local dwarf spheroidal galaxies to constrain the mass and pair annihilation cross section for particle dark matter. Our results indicate that X-ray observations of dwarf galaxies currently constrain dark matter models at the same level or more strongly than gamma-ray observations, although at the expenses of introducing additional assumptions and related uncertainties in the modeling of diffusion and energy loss processes. The limits we find constrain portions of the supersymmetric parameter space, particularly if the effect of dark matter substructures is included. Then, we investigate the possibility for the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to detect gamma-ray emission from clusters of galaxies, the largest bound dark matter structures. Clusters are expected to emit gamma rays as a result of (1) a population of high-energy primary and re-accelerated secondary cosmic rays fueled by structure formation and merger shocks, active galactic nuclei and supernovae, and (2) particle dark matter annihilation. Using simulated Fermi observations, we study observational handles that might enable us to distinguish the two emission mechanisms, including the gamma-ray spectra, the spatial distribution of the signal and the associated multi-wavelength emissions. Our study indicates that gamma rays from dark matter annihilation with a high particle mass (mWIMP > 50 GeV) can be distinguished from a cosmic ray spectrum even for fairly faint sources. Discriminating a cosmic ray spectrum from a light dark matter particle will be instead much more difficult, and will require long observations and/or a bright source.
Jeltema Tesla E.
Profumo Stefano
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