The Contribution Of Inverse Compton Scattering To The Diffuse Extragalactic Gamma-Ray Background From Annihilating Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper explores how dark matter annihilation produces gamma-ray backgrounds via inverse Compton scattering of electrons with the cosmic microwave background, offering constraints from gamma-ray observations.

Contribution

It analyzes the role of inverse Compton scattering in dark matter models and assesses observational constraints from gamma-ray telescopes.

Findings

Constraints on dark matter annihilation cross section from EGRET and COMPTEL data.

Predictions for future constraints from Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope.

Significance of inverse Compton scattering in gamma-ray background modeling.

Abstract

In addition to gamma-rays, dark matter annihilation products can include energetic electrons which inverse Compton scatter with the cosmic microwave background to produce a diffuse extragalactic background of gamma-rays and X-rays. In models in which the dark matter particles annihilate primarily to electrons or muons, the measurements of EGRET and COMPTEL can provide significant constraints on the annihilation cross section. The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope will likely provide an even more stringent test of such scenarios.