Abstract
A new calculation of the ratio in cosmic rays is compared to the recent PAMELA data. The good match up to 100 GeV allows us to set constraints on exotic contributions from thermal weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter candidates. We derive stringent limits on possible enhancements of the WIMP flux: a (1 TeV) signal cannot be increased by more than a factor of 6 (40) without overrunning PAMELA data. Annihilation through the channel is also inspected and cross-checked with data. This scenario is strongly disfavored as it fails to simultaneously reproduce positron and antiproton measurements.
- Received 29 October 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.071301
©2009 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Dark matter as a source of antiparticles: Too few positrons or too many antiprotons?
Published 23 February 2009
Two antimatter measurements performed by the PAMELA experiment appear to lead to conflicting results. Now, theorists are exploring the extent to which these measurements can be reconciled.
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