Searches for DM signals from the Galactic Centre region with H.E.S.S

TL;DR

This paper reviews the search for dark matter signals in the Galactic Centre region using H.E.S.S. gamma-ray observations, discussing the challenges posed by astrophysical sources and summarizing current results.

Contribution

It provides an overview of the H.E.S.S. dark matter search efforts in the Galactic Centre and discusses the interpretation challenges due to astrophysical backgrounds.

Findings

No definitive dark matter signal detected yet.

Astrophysical sources complicate the identification of dark matter signals.

Current limits constrain dark matter particle properties.

Abstract

The H.E.S.S. experiment, an array of four Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes, observes the Galactic Centre (GC) region in the very high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) domain since 2003. The GC is believed to be the region with the highest Dark Matter (DM) density in our Galaxy, thus making it one of the primary targets for VHE gamma-ray observations, looking for signals from annihilation or decay of DM particles. The interpretation of the collected H.E.S.S. data with regard to possible DM signals is however complicated by the presence of several astrophysical sources of VHE gamma-ray radiation in this region. The current status of the search for DM signals from the GC region is reviewed.