PAMELA and dark matter

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether the positron excess observed by PAMELA can be explained by dark matter annihilations, analyzing the data to infer the preferred dark matter spin and optimal annihilation channels.

Contribution

It provides a model-independent analysis of dark matter annihilation channels and assesses the data's preference for dark matter spin based on PAMELA observations.

Findings

Data shows a preference for certain annihilation channels.

Analysis suggests possible dark matter spin characteristics.

Optimal combinations of two-body final states fit the data well.

Abstract

Assuming that the positron excess in PAMELA satellite data is a consequence of annihilations of cold dark matter, we consider from a model-independent perspective if the data show a preference for the spin of dark matter. We then perform a general analysis of annihilations into two-body final states to determine what weighted combination of channels best describes the data.