Strategies for the Detection of Gamma Rays from Dark Matter Annihilation Towards the Galactic Center Region with the High Energy Stereoscopic System

TL;DR

This paper discusses new observational strategies with H.E.S.S. to detect gamma rays from dark matter annihilation near the galactic center, including a detailed Monte Carlo study comparing sensitivities of various approaches.

Contribution

It introduces and evaluates novel search strategies for dark matter signals using H.E.S.S., enhancing detection prospects with detailed simulations.

Findings

No significant gamma-ray excess observed.

Upper limits set on dark matter annihilation cross section.

New strategies improve sensitivity for future searches.

Abstract

The central region of the dark matter halo of the Milky Way is a promising target for a search for a particle dark matter annihilation signal. The H.E.S.S. Collaboration has published a search for a photon flux originating from dark matter particles annihilating in the galactic center region. No significant excess was observed and upper limits on the velocity averaged dark matter self annihilation cross section were derived. The limits exclude the self annihilation of dark matter particles in the $\sim 1$ TeV to $\sim 4$ TeV mass range with a velocity averaged annihilation cross section larger than $\sim 3\cdot 10^{-25}\:\mathrm{cm^3/s}$, i.e. about one order of magnitude above the prediction for a thermal relic dark matter particle. A detailed and realistic Monte Carlo study of new strategies for the search for a particle dark matter annihilation signal from the Milky Way dark matter halo with the High Energy Stereoscopic System is presented and the sensitivity of different experimental approaches is compared.