Developing the Theory of Flux Limits from $\gamma$-Ray Cascades

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding flux limits from gamma-ray cascades caused by processes like dark matter annihilation, emphasizing the impact of energy and redshift on observable gamma-ray fluxes.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed physics-based model of electromagnetic cascade radiation development and analyzes how energy and redshift scales influence flux limits.

Findings

Cascade radiation physics affects high-energy gamma-ray observability.

Energy and redshift scales significantly modify flux limits.

Theoretical flux limits depend on cascade development physics.

Abstract

Dark matter annihilation and other processes may precipitate a flux of diffuse ultra-high energy $\gamma$-rays. These $\gamma$-rays may be observable in present day experiments which observe diffuse fluxes at the GeV scale. Yet the universe is presently opaque to $\gamma$-rays above 10 TeV. It is generally assumed that cascade radiation is observable at all high energies, however the disparity in energy from production to observation has important consequences for theoretical flux limits. We detail the physics of cascade radiation development and consider the influence of energy and redshift scale on arbitrary flux limits that result from electromagnetic cascade.