The EGRET telescope has identified a gamma-ray source at the Galactic center. We point out here that the spectral features of this source are compatible with the gamma-ray flux induced by pair annihilations of dark matter weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPS). We show that the discrimination between this interpretation and other viable explanations will be possible with GLAST, the next major gamma-ray telescope in space, on the basis of both the spectral and the angular signature of the WIMP-induced component. If, on the other hand, the data will point to an alternative explanation, we prove that there will still be the possibility for GLAST to single out a weaker dark matter source at the Galactic center. The potential of GLAST has been explored both in the context of a generic simplified toy-model for WIMP dark matter, and in a more specific setup, the case of dark matter neutralinos in the minimal supergravity framework. In the latter, we find that even in the case of moderate dark matter densities in the Galactic center region, there are portions of the parameter space which will be probed by GLAST.

Cesarini, A., Fucito, F., Lionetto, A.m., Morselli, A., Ullio, P. (2004). The Galactic center as a dark matter gamma-ray source, 21(3), 267-285 [10.1016/j.astropartphys.2004.02.001].

The Galactic center as a dark matter gamma-ray source

LIONETTO, ANDREA MICHELE;
2004-01-01

Abstract

The EGRET telescope has identified a gamma-ray source at the Galactic center. We point out here that the spectral features of this source are compatible with the gamma-ray flux induced by pair annihilations of dark matter weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPS). We show that the discrimination between this interpretation and other viable explanations will be possible with GLAST, the next major gamma-ray telescope in space, on the basis of both the spectral and the angular signature of the WIMP-induced component. If, on the other hand, the data will point to an alternative explanation, we prove that there will still be the possibility for GLAST to single out a weaker dark matter source at the Galactic center. The potential of GLAST has been explored both in the context of a generic simplified toy-model for WIMP dark matter, and in a more specific setup, the case of dark matter neutralinos in the minimal supergravity framework. In the latter, we find that even in the case of moderate dark matter densities in the Galactic center region, there are portions of the parameter space which will be probed by GLAST.
2004
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Sì, ma tipo non specificato
Settore FIS/04 - FISICA NUCLEARE E SUBNUCLEARE
English
Con Impact Factor ISI
dark matter; gamma-rays; supersymmetry
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6TJ1-4BT12HB-2-5R&_cdi=5297&_user=2606776&_pii=S0927650504000337&_origin=browse&_coverDate=06/30/2004&_sk=999789996&view=c&wchp=dGLbVtb-zSkzk&md5=152620ddf6269f94d814125081446ca8&ie=/sdarticle.pdf
Cesarini, A., Fucito, F., Lionetto, A.m., Morselli, A., Ullio, P. (2004). The Galactic center as a dark matter gamma-ray source, 21(3), 267-285 [10.1016/j.astropartphys.2004.02.001].
Cesarini, A; Fucito, F; Lionetto, Am; Morselli, A; Ullio, P
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/7913
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