Prospects for Indirect Detection of Dark Matter with CTA

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the potential of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to detect dark matter indirectly through gamma-ray signals, focusing on the Galactic Center and its sensitivity to specific dark matter particle properties.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of CTA's capabilities for detecting dark matter annihilation signals, highlighting its sensitivity to particles above 100 GeV and near the thermal relic cross section.

Findings

CTA can detect dark matter particles >100 GeV.

Deep observations of the Galactic Center improve detection prospects.

CTA's sensitivity approaches the thermal relic annihilation cross section.

Abstract

We discuss the prospects for indirect detection of dark matter (DM) with the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), a future ground-based gamma-ray observatory that will be sensitive to gamma rays in the energy range from a few tens of GeV to 100 TeV. We consider the detectability of DM annihilation in different astrophysical targets with a focus on the Galactic Center (GC) region. With a deep observation of the GC, CTA will be sensitive to DM particles with mass greater than 100 GeV and an annihilation cross section close to the thermal relic value.