The Search for WIMP Dark Matter Continuum Gamma-ray Emission from Dark Matter Satellites in the Milky Way Using the Fermi LAT

The Search for WIMP Dark Matter Continuum Gamma-ray Emission from Dark Matter Satellites in the Milky Way Using the Fermi LAT PDF Author: Wang Ping
Publisher: Stanford University
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 167

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Book Description
This thesis focuses on the search for unknown dark matter (DM) satellites in the Milky Way using the Fermi Large Area Space Telescope (LAT). The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) is a next generation space observatory, which was successfully launched on June 11th, 2008. The LAT is the principal scientific instrument onboard. Its unprecedented angular resolution and sensitivity in the 100 MeV to > 300 GeV energy range makes it an excellent instrument for probing the sky for DM satellites. Current N-body simulations based on the Lambda-CDM cosmology model predict a large number of as yet unobserved DM satellites in our galaxy; some satellites are predicted to be extended sources (> 1deg extension) as seen by the LAT. Our work assumes that a significant component of DM is a Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) in the 100 GeV mass range. The annihilation of WIMPs results in many high energy gamma rays that can be well measured by the LAT. The WIMP produced gamma-ray spectrum from the putative DM satellites is considerably harder than most astrophysical sources. Also, DM satellites have no astronomical counterparts in the X-ray and radio bands, and the emission has no time variability. My thesis will focus on a blind analysis in the search for unknown DM satellites using one year of LAT data, and setting constraints on some WIMP models based on the results of our analysis in which we find no candidates.

The Search for WIMP Dark Matter Continuum Gamma-ray Emission from Dark Matter Satellites in the Milky Way Using the Fermi LAT

The Search for WIMP Dark Matter Continuum Gamma-ray Emission from Dark Matter Satellites in the Milky Way Using the Fermi LAT PDF Author: Wang Ping
Publisher: Stanford University
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 167

Get Book

Book Description
This thesis focuses on the search for unknown dark matter (DM) satellites in the Milky Way using the Fermi Large Area Space Telescope (LAT). The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) is a next generation space observatory, which was successfully launched on June 11th, 2008. The LAT is the principal scientific instrument onboard. Its unprecedented angular resolution and sensitivity in the 100 MeV to > 300 GeV energy range makes it an excellent instrument for probing the sky for DM satellites. Current N-body simulations based on the Lambda-CDM cosmology model predict a large number of as yet unobserved DM satellites in our galaxy; some satellites are predicted to be extended sources (> 1deg extension) as seen by the LAT. Our work assumes that a significant component of DM is a Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) in the 100 GeV mass range. The annihilation of WIMPs results in many high energy gamma rays that can be well measured by the LAT. The WIMP produced gamma-ray spectrum from the putative DM satellites is considerably harder than most astrophysical sources. Also, DM satellites have no astronomical counterparts in the X-ray and radio bands, and the emission has no time variability. My thesis will focus on a blind analysis in the search for unknown DM satellites using one year of LAT data, and setting constraints on some WIMP models based on the results of our analysis in which we find no candidates.

The Role of Halo Substructure in Gamma-Ray Dark Matter Searches

The Role of Halo Substructure in Gamma-Ray Dark Matter Searches PDF Author: Miguel A. Sánchez-Conde
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3039360442
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
An important, open research topic today is to understand the relevance that dark matter halo substructure may have for dark matter searches. In the standard cosmological model, halo substructure or subhalos are predicted to be largely abundant inside larger halos, for example, galaxies such as ours, and are thought to form first and later merge to form larger structures. Dwarf satellite galaxies—the most massive exponents of halo substructure in our own galaxy—are already known to be excellent targets for dark matter searches, and indeed, they are constantly scrutinized by current gamma-ray experiments in the search for dark matter signals. Lighter subhalos not massive enough to have a visible counterpart of stars and gas may be good targets as well, given their typical abundances and distances. In addition, the clumpy distribution of subhalos residing in larger halos may boost the dark matter signals considerably. In an era in which gamma-ray experiments possess, for the first time, the exciting potential to put to test the preferred dark matter particle theories, a profound knowledge of dark matter astrophysical targets and scenarios is mandatory should we aim for accurate predictions of dark matter-induced fluxes for investing significant telescope observing time on selected targets and for deriving robust conclusions from our dark matter search efforts. In this regard, a precise characterization of the statistical and structural properties of subhalos becomes critical. In this Special Issue, we aim to summarize where we stand today on our knowledge of the different aspects of the dark matter halo substructure; to identify what are the remaining big questions, and how we could address these; and, by doing so, to find new avenues for research.

From the Fermi Scale to Cosmology

From the Fermi Scale to Cosmology PDF Author: Alberto Salvio
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889632059
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 265

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Book Description


A Search for Spectral Lines from WIMP Annihilation in the Milky Way Using the Fermi Large Area Telescope

A Search for Spectral Lines from WIMP Annihilation in the Milky Way Using the Fermi Large Area Telescope PDF Author: Yvonne Vasetta Edmonds
Publisher: Stanford University
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
The most popular class of dark matter candidates is the class of weakly-interacting massive particles (WIMPs). The Fermi Large Area Telescope has the possibility of indirectly detecting WIMPs by the flux from their annihilation/decay products. When a WIMP annihilates or decays directly into a photon gamma and another particle Y the photons are monochromatic. Detection of the resulting spectral line(s) would provide convincing evidence for particulate dark matter and could provide the WIMP mass. In the case of no detection, knowledge of the dark matter distribution can be used to place limits on the annihilation cross section and lifetime for the WIMP(s) to Y-gamma channel. We present the spectrum from 4.8 to 264 GeV and spectral line flux upper limits, obtained from a subset of this spectrum, from 7 to 200 GeV. The spatial region of the dataset covers a large portion of the sky, the high latitudes plus the Galactic Center. We report upper limits on the WIMP cross sections for annihilation to gamma-gamma and Z-gamma and lower limits on the WIMP lifetime for decay to gamma-neutrino. We discuss the implications of the spectrum and line flux limits for several dark matter models with optimistic branching ratios for photon channels.

A Search for Spectral Lines from WIMP Annihilation in the Milky Way Using the Fermi Large Area Telescope

A Search for Spectral Lines from WIMP Annihilation in the Milky Way Using the Fermi Large Area Telescope PDF Author: Yvonne Vasetta Edmonds
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The most popular class of dark matter candidates is the class of weakly-interacting massive particles (WIMPs). The Fermi Large Area Telescope has the possibility of indirectly detecting WIMPs by the flux from their annihilation/decay products. When a WIMP annihilates or decays directly into a photon gamma and another particle Y the photons are monochromatic. Detection of the resulting spectral line(s) would provide convincing evidence for particulate dark matter and could provide the WIMP mass. In the case of no detection, knowledge of the dark matter distribution can be used to place limits on the annihilation cross section and lifetime for the WIMP(s) to Y-gamma channel. We present the spectrum from 4.8 to 264 GeV and spectral line flux upper limits, obtained from a subset of this spectrum, from 7 to 200 GeV. The spatial region of the dataset covers a large portion of the sky, the high latitudes plus the Galactic Center. We report upper limits on the WIMP cross sections for annihilation to gamma-gamma and Z-gamma and lower limits on the WIMP lifetime for decay to gamma-neutrino. We discuss the implications of the spectrum and line flux limits for several dark matter models with optimistic branching ratios for photon channels.

Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology

Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology PDF Author: Subhendra Mohanty
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030562018
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 296

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Book Description
Cosmology and astroparticle physics have seen an avalanche of discoveries in the past decade (IceCube - high energy neutrinos, LIGO - gravitational waves, Fermi- gamma-ray telescope, Xenon-1T - dark matter detection, PLANCK- cosmic microwave radiation, EHT picture of black hole, SDSS -galaxy surveys), all of which require a multidisciplinary background for analyzing the phenomena. The arena for testing particle physics models is in the multimessenger astronomical observations and at the same time cosmology now requires a particle physics basis for explaining many phenomena. This book discusses the theoretical tools of particle physics and general relativity which are essential for understanding and correlating diverse astronomical observations.

A Simulation of Cosmic Rays Interacting with Dark Matter Surrounding the Milky Way

A Simulation of Cosmic Rays Interacting with Dark Matter Surrounding the Milky Way PDF Author: Gregory Leonard LaScola
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Baryons
Languages : en
Pages : 86

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Book Description


Matter, Anti-matter And Dark Matter, Proceedings Of The Second International Workshop

Matter, Anti-matter And Dark Matter, Proceedings Of The Second International Workshop PDF Author: Roberto Battiston
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814487775
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 269

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Book Description
This book presents the progress in cosmic ray physics following the recent results obtained by balloon, satellite and underground experiments. The following topics are reviewed: Composition and propagation of cosmic rays, trapping of charged particles in the earth's magnetic field, atmospheric neutrinos, and high energy photon measurements in space.

Reconstruction of the Galactic Dark Matter Density

Reconstruction of the Galactic Dark Matter Density PDF Author: Markus Weber
Publisher: Sudwestdeutscher Verlag Fur Hochschulschriften AG
ISBN: 9783838123851
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description
This thesis considers the dark matter (DM) density distribution of the Milky Way. The DM is assumed to consist of weakly interacting massive particles. Their density distribution is constrained by astronomical observations. An important constraint is the so-called rotation curve (RC) of the Milky Way, which describes the rotation speed of matter around the Galactic centre as function of Galactocentric distance. It is shown that a ringlike DM component in the Galactic disc is necessary to describe the peculiar dips in the RC at 3 and 9 kpc from the centre in agreement with the dip in the gas flaring of the Milky Way. This substructure effects the local DM density which is of crucial importance for direct DM search experiments. The slight GeV excess in the spectra of diffuse Galactic gamma rays of the EGRET and Fermi satellite data are consistent with this DM density distribution, if this excess is attributed to DM annihilation.

Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop on the Identification of Dark Matter

Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop on the Identification of Dark Matter PDF Author: Neil John Curwen Spooner
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9812382372
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 684

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Book Description
The objective of this workshop series is to assess the status of work attempting to identify what constitutes dark matter - in particular, to consider the techniques being used, how successful they are, and what new techniques are likely to improve prospects for identifying likely dark matter candidates in the future.