Search for Photon-Linelike Signatures from Dark Matter Annihilations with H.E.S.S

Abramowski, A.; Acero, F.; Aharonian, F.; Akhperjanian, A.G.; Anton, G.; Balenderan, S.; Balzer, A.; Barnacka, A.; Becherini, Y.; Becker Tjus, J.; Bernlöhr, K.; Birsin, E.; Biteau, J.; Bochow, A.; Boisson, C.; Bolmont, J.; Bordas, P.; Brucker, J.; Brun, F.; Brun, P.; Bulik, T.; Carrigan, S.; Casanova, S.; Cerruti, M.; Chadwick, P.M.; Chaves, R.C.G.; Cheesebrough, A.; Colafrancesco, S.; Cologna, G.; Conrad, J.; Couturier, C.; Dalton, M.; Daniel, M.K.; Davids, I.D.; Degrange, B.; Deil, C.; deWilt, P.; Dickinson, H.J.; Djannati-Ataï, A.; Domainko, W.; Drury, L.O'C.; Dubus, G.; Dutson, K.; Dyks, J.; Dyrda, M.; Egberts, K.; Eger, P.; Espigat, P.; Fallon, L.; Farnier, C.; Fegan, S.; Feinstein, F.; Fernandes, M.V.; Fernandez, D.; Fiasson, A.; Fontaine, G.; Förster, A.; Füßling, M.; Gajdus, M.; Gallant, Y.A.; Garrigoux, T.; Gast, H.; Giebels, B.; Glicenstein, J.F.; Glück, B.; Göring, D.; Grondin, M.-H.; Häffner, S.; Hague, J.D.; Hahn, J.; Hampf, D.; Harris, J.; Heinz, S.; Heinzelmann, G.; Henr...

Abstract

Gamma-ray line signatures can be expected in the very-high-energy (Eγ>100  GeV) domain due to self-annihilation or decay of dark matter (DM) particles in space. Such a signal would be readily distinguishable from astrophysical γ-ray sources that in most cases produce continuous spectra that span over several orders of magnitude in energy. Using data collected with the H.E.S.S. γ-ray instrument, upper limits on linelike emission are obtained in the energy range between ∼500  GeV and ∼25  TeV for the central part of the Milky Way halo and for extragalactic observations, complementing recent limits obtained with the Fermi-LAT instrument at lower energies. No statistically significant signal could be found. For monochromatic γ-ray line emission, flux limits of (2×10−7–2×10−5)  m−2 s−1 sr−1 and (1×10−8–2×10−6)  m−2 s−1 sr−1 are obtained for the central part of the Milky Way halo and extragalactic observations, respectively. For a DM particle mass of 1 TeV, limits on the velocity-averaged DM annihilation cross section ⟨σv⟩χχ→γγ reach ∼10−27  cm3 s−1, based on the Einasto parametrization of the Galactic DM halo density profile.

Citation

Abramowski, A., Acero, F., Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A., Anton, G., Balenderan, S., …Zechlin, H. (2013). Search for Photon-Linelike Signatures from Dark Matter Annihilations with H.E.S.S. Physical Review Letters, 110(4), Article 041301. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.110.041301

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Mar 25, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 11, 2014
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Electronic ISSN: 1079-7114
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 110
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 041301
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.110.041301