Abstract
We evaluate dark matter (DM) limits from cosmic-ray antiproton observations using the recent precise AMS-02 measurements. We properly take into account cosmic-ray propagation uncertainties, fitting DM and propagation parameters at the same time and marginalizing over the latter. We find a significant indication of a DM signal for DM masses near 80 GeV, with a hadronic annihilation cross section close to the thermal value, . Intriguingly, this signal is compatible with the DM interpretation of the Galactic center gamma-ray excess. Confirmation of the signal will require a more accurate study of the systematic uncertainties, i.e., the antiproton production cross section, and the modeling of the effect of solar modulation. Interpreting the AMS-02 data in terms of upper limits on hadronic DM annihilation, we obtain strong constraints excluding a thermal annihilation cross section for DM masses below about 50 GeV and in the range between approximately 150 and 500 GeV, even for conservative propagation scenarios. Except for the range around , our limits are a factor of stronger than the limits from gamma-ray observations of dwarf galaxies.
- Received 24 October 2016
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.191102
© 2017 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Synopsis
Antiprotons May Hold Dark Matter Signal
Published 9 May 2017
Recently released data on cosmic-ray antiprotons may contain hints of dark matter, as revealed by two new analyses.
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