Fermi LAT Search for Photon Lines from 30 to 200 GeV and Dark Matter Implications

TL;DR

This paper reports on Fermi LAT data analysis searching for gamma-ray lines between 30 and 200 GeV, setting limits on dark matter annihilation and decay, and discussing the implications for dark matter theories.

Contribution

The study provides new gamma-ray line flux limits from Fermi LAT data in the 30-200 GeV range, constraining dark matter particle properties.

Findings

Gamma-ray line flux upper limits range from 0.6 to 4.5×10^{-9} cm^{-2}s^{-1}

Derived dark matter annihilation cross-section limits

Derived dark matter decay lifetime limits

Abstract

Dark matter (DM) particle annihilation or decay can produce monochromatic $\gamma$-rays readily distinguishable from astrophysical sources. $\gamma$-ray line limits from 30 GeV to 200 GeV obtained from 11 months of Fermi Large Area Space Telescope data from 20-300 GeV are presented using a selection based on requirements for a $\gamma$-ray line analysis, and integrated over most of the sky. We obtain $\gamma$-ray line flux upper limits in the range $0.6-4.5\times 10^{-9}\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\mathrm{s}^{-1}$, and give corresponding DM annihilation cross-section and decay lifetime limits. Theoretical implications are briefly discussed.