Dark Matter Decay and Cosmic Rays

TL;DR

This paper explores how dark matter decay could explain cosmic-ray excesses observed by PAMELA and Fermi LAT, and discusses implications for gamma-ray anisotropy measurements.

Contribution

It provides a discussion linking dark matter decay models to cosmic-ray and gamma-ray observations, highlighting potential signatures and anisotropies.

Findings

Dark matter decay may account for positron and electron excesses.

Implications for gamma-ray flux anisotropy are discussed.

Potential signatures in cosmic-ray and gamma-ray data are identified.

Abstract

The decay of dark matter is predicted by many theoretical models and can produce observable contributions to the cosmic-ray fluxes. I shortly discuss the interpretation of the positron and electron excess as observed by PAMELA and Fermi LAT in terms of decaying dark matter, and I point out the implications for the Fermi LAT observations of the gamma-ray flux with emphasis on its dipole-like anisotropy.