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

A. Abramowski et al. (H.E.S.S. Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 041301 – Published 22 January 2013
Physics logo See Synopsis: Waiting for Dark Matter to Light Up

Abstract

Gamma-ray line signatures can be expected in the very-high-energy (Eγ>100GeV) 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 500GeV and 25TeV 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 (2×1072×105)m2s1sr1 and (1×1082×106)m2s1sr1 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 σvχχγγ reach 1027cm3s1, based on the Einasto parametrization of the Galactic DM halo density profile.

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  • Received 15 October 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.041301

© 2013 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Waiting for Dark Matter to Light Up

Published 22 January 2013

The H.E.S.S. Collaboration has put bounds on the flux of very-high-energy gamma rays that could be produced by annihilations of dark matter particles.

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Vol. 110, Iss. 4 — 25 January 2013

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