4 research outputs found
Dark Matter Sees The Light
We construct a Dark Matter (DM) annihilation module that can encompass the
predictions from a wide array of models built to explain the recently reported
PAMELA and ATIC/PPB-BETS excesses. We present a detailed analysis of the
injection spectrums for DM annihilation and quantitatively demonstrate effects
that have previously not been included from the particle physics perspective.
With this module we demonstrate the parameter space that can account for the
aforementioned excesses and be compatible with existing high energy gamma ray
and neutrino experiments. However, we find that it is relatively generic to
have some tension between the results of the HESS experiment and the
ATIC/PPB-BETS experiments within the context of annihilating DM. We discuss
ways to alleviate this tension and how upcoming experiments will be able to
differentiate amongst the various possible explanations of the purported
excesses.Comment: 47 pages, 17 figure
A Global Fireball Observatory
The world's meteorite collections contain a very rich picture of what the early Solar System would have been made of, however the lack of spatial context with respect to their parent population for these samples is an issue. The asteroid population is equally as rich in surface mineralogies, and mapping these two populations (meteorites and asteroids) together is a major challenge for planetary science. Directly probing asteroids achieves this at a high cost. Observing meteorite falls and calculating their pre-atmospheric orbit on the other hand, is a cheaper way to approach the problem. The Global Fireball Observatory (GFO) collaboration was established in 2017 and brings together multiple institutions (from Australia, USA, Canada, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Argentina) to maximise the area for fireball observation time and therefore meteorite recoveries. The members have a choice to operate independently, but they can also choose to work in a fully collaborative manner with other GFO partners. This efficient approach leverages the experience gained from the Desert Fireball Network (DFN) pathfinder project in Australia. The state-of-the art technology (DFN camera systems and data reduction) and experience of the support teams is shared between all partners, freeing up time for science investigations and meteorite searching. With all networks combined together, the GFO collaboration already covers 0.6% of the Earth's surface for meteorite recovery as of mid-2019, and aims to reach 2% in the early 2020s. We estimate that after 5 years of operation, the GFO will have observed a fireball from virtually every meteorite type. This combined effort will bring new, fresh, extra-terrestrial material to the labs, yielding new insights about the formation of the Solar System