The search for DM in nearby dSph galaxies with MAGIC: candidates, results and prospects

TL;DR

This paper reviews the search for dark matter in nearby dwarf spheroidal galaxies using the MAGIC gamma-ray telescope, presenting observational results, candidate assessments, and future detection prospects.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive analysis of MAGIC observations of dwarf spheroidals, including new candidate evaluations and prospects for future dark matter detection.

Findings

MAGIC observed Draco dwarf galaxy for dark matter signals.

New dwarf galaxy candidates may offer higher dark matter fluxes.

Detection prospects depend on upcoming telescope sensitivities.

Abstract

At present, dwarf spheroidal galaxies satellites of the Milky Way may represent the best astrophysical objects for dark matter (DM) searches with gamma-ray telescopes. They present the highest mass-to-light ratios known in the Universe. Furthermore, many of them are near enough from the Earth to be able to yield high predicted DM annihilation fluxes that might be observed by current gamma-ray instruments like MAGIC. The picture has become even better with the recent discovery of new dwarfs. These new objects are expected to yield even higher DM annihilation fluxes, since most of them are nearer than the previously known dwarfs and are even more DM dominated systems. Here a tentative list of the best candidates is given. The observational results obtained with MAGIC from the Draco dwarf as well as the observation of other dwarfs carried out by other Cherenkov telescopes are presented as well. Finally, we discuss the detection prospects of such kind of objects in the context of DM searches.