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Towards a Bullet-proof test for indirect signals of dark matter

Peter W. Graham, Surjeet Rajendran, Ken Van Tilburg, and Timothy D. Wiser
Phys. Rev. D 91, 103524 – Published 20 May 2015
Physics logo See Synopsis: Spatial Tests of Dark Matter

Abstract

Merging galaxy clusters such as the Bullet Cluster provide a powerful testing ground for indirect detection of dark matter. The spatial distribution of the dark matter is both directly measurable through gravitational lensing and substantially different from the distribution of potential astrophysical backgrounds. We propose to use this spatial information to identify the origin of indirect detection signals, and we show that even statistical excesses of a few sigma can be robustly tested for consistency—or inconsistency—with a dark matter source. For example, our methods, combined with already-existing observations of the Coma Cluster, would allow the 3.55 keV line to be tested for compatibility with a dark matter origin. We also discuss the optimal spatial reweighting of photons for indirect detection searches. The current discovery rate of merging galaxy clusters and associated lensing maps strongly motivates deep exposures in these dark matter targets for both current and upcoming indirect detection experiments in the x-ray and gamma-ray bands.

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  • Received 13 March 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.91.103524

© 2015 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Spatial Tests of Dark Matter

Published 20 May 2015

Maps of merging galaxy clusters could help find signatures of dark matter based on its decay into photons.

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Authors & Affiliations

Peter W. Graham1,*, Surjeet Rajendran2,†, Ken Van Tilburg1,‡, and Timothy D. Wiser1,§

  • 1Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
  • 2Berkeley Center for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

  • *pwgraham@stanford.edu
  • surjeet@berkeley.edu
  • kenvt@stanford.edu
  • §tdwiser@stanford.edu

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Issue

Vol. 91, Iss. 10 — 15 May 2015

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