Search for Unknown Dark Matter Satellites of the Milky Way

TL;DR

This study searched for dark matter satellites around the Milky Way using gamma-ray data from the LAT, but found no candidates, providing constraints on dark matter models and satellite abundance.

Contribution

First comprehensive gamma-ray search for Galactic dark matter satellites using LAT data, testing predictions from Lambda-CDM simulations.

Findings

No dark matter satellite candidates detected in LAT data.

Results constrain the properties and abundance of dark matter satellites.

Supports the need for more sensitive searches or alternative detection methods.

Abstract

We present a search for Galactic dark matter (DM) satellites using the Large Area Telescope (LAT). N-body simulations based on the Lambda-CDM model of cosmology predict a large number of as yet unobserved Galactic DM satellites. These satellites could potentially produce gamma rays through the self-annihilation of DM particles. Some DM satellites are expected to have hard gamma-ray spectra, finite angular extents, and a lack of counterparts at other wavelengths. We searched for LAT sources with these characteristics. We found no candidate DM satellites matching these criteria in one year of LAT data and interpreted this result in the context of N-body simulations.