Solar γ rays as a complementary probe of dark matter

Chiara Arina, Mihailo Backović, Jan Heisig, and Michele Lucente
Phys. Rev. D 96, 063010 – Published 18 September 2017

Abstract

We show that observations of solar γ rays offer a novel probe of dark matter in scenarios where interactions with the visible sector proceed via a long-lived mediator. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate that there exists a class of models which yield solar γ-ray fluxes observable with the next generation of γ-ray telescopes, while being allowed by a variety of current experimental constraints. The parameter space allowed by big bang nucleosynthesis and beam dump experiments naturally leads to mediator lifetimes sufficient to produce observable solar γ-ray signals. The model allows for solar γ-ray fluxes up to orders of magnitude larger compared to dwarf spheroidal galaxies, without reaching equilibrium between dark matter annihilation and capture rate. Our results suggest that solar γ-ray observations are complementary, and in some cases superior, to existing and future dark matter detection efforts.

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  • Received 7 April 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.96.063010

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
Gravitation, Cosmology & AstrophysicsParticles & Fields

Authors & Affiliations

Chiara Arina1, Mihailo Backović1, Jan Heisig2, and Michele Lucente1

  • 1Center for Cosmology, Particle Physics and Phenomenology (CP3), Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
  • 2Institute for Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology, RWTH Aachen University, D-52056 Aachen, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 96, Iss. 6 — 15 September 2017

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