Open AccessAstrophysical limits on massive dark matter
Author(s) -
Bertone G.,
Sigl G.,
Silk J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04650.x
Subject(s) - physics , dark matter , astrophysics , light dark matter , galaxy , scalar field dark matter , hot dark matter , warm dark matter , baryonic dark matter , weakly interacting massive particles , annihilation , astronomy , mixed dark matter , dark matter halo , particle physics , cosmology , dark energy , halo
Annihilations of weakly interacting dark matter particles provide an important signature for the possibility of indirect detection of dark matter in galaxy haloes. These self‐annihilations can be greatly enhanced in the vicinity of a massive black hole. We show that the massive black hole present at the centre of our galaxy accretes dark matter particles, creating a region of very high particle density. Consequently the annihilation rate is considerably increased, with a large number of e + e − pairs being produced either directly or by successive decays of mesons. We evaluate the synchrotron emission (and self‐absorption) associated with the propagation of these particles through the galactic magnetic field, and are able to constrain the allowed values of masses and cross sections of dark matter particles.