Search for Gamma-rays from Dark Matter annihilations around Intermediate Mass Black Holes with the H.E.S.S. experiment

TL;DR

This study uses H.E.S.S. gamma-ray data to set constraints on dark matter annihilation signals around intermediate mass black holes, excluding certain dark matter models at high confidence levels.

Contribution

First experimental constraints on dark matter annihilation around intermediate mass black holes using H.E.S.S. data, focusing on the mini-spikes scenario.

Findings

Excluded dark matter models with cross section > 10^-28 cm^3s^-1 for masses 800 GeV to 10 TeV

Provided the first sensitivity map for dark matter around intermediate mass black holes

Set 90% confidence level limits on gamma-ray signals from dark matter annihilation

Abstract

The H.E.S.S. array of Cherenkov telescopes has performed, from 2004 to 2007, a survey of the inner Galactic plane at photon energies above 100 GeV. About 400 hours of data have been accumulated in the region between -30 and +60 degrees in Galactic longitude, and between -3 and +3 degrees in Galactic latitude. Assuming that dark matter is composed of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, we calculate here the H.E.S.S. sensitivity map for dark matter annihilations, and derive the first experimental constraints on the ''mini-spikes'' scenario, in which a gamma-ray signal arises from dark matter annihilation around Intermediate Mass Black Holes. The data exclude the proposed scenario at a 90% confidence level for dark matter particles with velocity-weighted annihilation cross section sigma v above 10^28 cm3s^-1 and mass between 800 GeV and 10 TeV.