4 research outputs found
Fitting the Gamma-Ray Spectrum from Dark Matter with DMFIT: GLAST and the Galactic Center Region
We study the potential of GLAST to unveil particle dark matter properties
with gamma-ray observations of the Galactic center region. We present full
GLAST simulations including all gamma-ray sources known to date in a region of
4 degrees around the Galactic center, in addition to the diffuse gamma-ray
background and to the dark matter signal. We introduce DMFIT, a tool that
allows one to fit gamma-ray emission from pair-annihilation of generic particle
dark matter models and to extract information on the mass, normalization and
annihilation branching ratios into Standard Model final states. We assess the
impact and systematic effects of background modeling and theoretical priors on
the reconstruction of dark matter particle properties. Our detailed simulations
demonstrate that for some well motivated supersymmetric dark matter setups with
one year of GLAST data it will be possible not only to significantly detect a
dark matter signal over background, but also to estimate the dark matter mass
and its dominant pair-annihilation mode.Comment: 37 pages, 16 figures, submitted to JCA
WIMP dark matter, Higgs exchange and DAMA
In the WIMP scenario, there is a one-to-one relation between the dark matter
(DM) relic density and spin independent direct detection rate if both the
annihilation of DM and its elastic scattering on nuclei go dominantly through
Higgs exchange. In particular, for DM masses much smaller than the Higgs boson
mass, the ratio of the relevant cross sections depends only on the DM mass.
Assuming DM mass and direct detection rate within the ranges allowed by the
recent DAMA collaboration results -taking account of the channelling effect on
energy threshold and the null results of the other direct detection
experiments- gives a definite range for the relic density. For scalar DM
models, like the Higgs portal models or the inert doublet model, the relic
density range turns out to be in agreement with WMAP. This scenario implies
that the Higgs boson has a large branching ratio to pairs of DM particles, a
prediction which might challenge its search at the LHC.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures. Matches the published version. One figure
modified. Conclusions unchange
Direct versus indirect detection in mSUGRA with self-consistent halo models
We perform a detailed analysis of the detection prospects of neutralino dark
matter in the mSUGRA framework. We focus on models with a thermal relic
density, estimated with high accuracy using the DarkSUSY package, in the range
favored by current precision cosmological measurements. Direct and indirect
detection rates are computed implementing two models for the dark matter halo,
tracing opposite regimes for the phase of baryon infall, with fully consistent
density profiles and velocity distribution functions. This has allowed, for the
first time, a fully consistent comparison between direct and indirect detection
prospects. We discuss all relevant regimes in the mSUGRA parameter space,
underlining relevant effects, and providing the basis for extending the
discussion to alternative frameworks. In general, we find that direct detection
and searches for antideuterons in the cosmic rays seems to be the most
promising ways to search for neutralinos in these scenarios.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figure
Catching Dark Matter Particles in the Galactic halo with DAMA/LIBRA
D
ark Matter is one of the challenging topics of contemporary Physics and Cosmology. Many cosmological and astrophysical observations reveal that most of the Universe is made of dark stuff, the Dark Matter and the Dark Energy. The volume, after an introduction to general topics of Cosmology and main features of Dark Matter, deals with the specific experimental approach in direct detection able to shed light on Dark Matter in the galactic halo. In particular, the model–independent annual modulation signature, due to the relative motion of the Earth in the galactic halo, is presented and the results obtained in this context by the DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA (in its two phases) experiments are described