Search for Gamma-Ray Emission from DES Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy Candidates with Fermi-LAT Data

TL;DR

This study searched for gamma-ray signals from eight new dwarf spheroidal galaxy candidates discovered by DES using six years of Fermi-LAT data, finding no significant emission but setting limits on dark matter annihilation.

Contribution

First search for gamma-ray emission from new DES dwarf galaxy candidates with Fermi-LAT data, establishing constraints on dark matter properties.

Findings

No significant gamma-ray excess detected.

Constraints on dark matter annihilation cross section below thermal relic level for particles under 20 GeV.

Potential to constrain dark matter models if candidates are confirmed as dSphs.

Abstract

Due to their proximity, high dark-matter content, and apparent absence of non-thermal processes, Milky Way dwarf spheroidal satellite galaxies (dSphs) are excellent targets for the indirect detection of dark matter. Recently, eight new dSph candidates were discovered using the first year of data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES). We searched for gamma-ray emission coincident with the positions of these new objects in six years of Fermi Large Area Telescope data. We found no significant excesses of gamma-ray emission. Under the assumption that the DES candidates are dSphs with dark matter halo properties similar to the known dSphs, we computed individual and combined limits on the velocity-averaged dark matter annihilation cross section for these new targets. If the estimated dark-matter content of these dSph candidates is confirmed, they will constrain the annihilation cross section to lie below the thermal relic cross section for dark matter particles with masses < 20 GeV annihilating via the b-bbar or tau+tau- channels.