Implications of the first AMS-02 antiproton data for dark matter

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the first AMS-02 antiproton data to derive conservative limits on dark matter annihilation, showing compatibility with gamma-ray constraints and highlighting the need for more high-energy antiproton data.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed interpretation of AMS-02 antiproton data in the context of dark matter properties using various propagation models.

Findings

Limits on dark matter annihilation cross sections are consistent with gamma-ray data.

Current antiproton spectrum flattening allows for TeV-scale dark matter.

More high-energy antiproton data are needed to better constrain dark matter properties.

Abstract

The implications of the first AMS-02 $\bar p/p$ data for the propagation of cosmic rays and the properties of dark matter (DM) are discussed. Using various diffusive re-acceleration (DR) propagation models, one can derive very conservative upper limits on the DM annihilation cross sections. The limits turned out to be compatible with that from the Ferm-LAT gamma-ray data on the dwarf spheroidal satellite galaxies. The flattening of the $\bar p/p$ spectrum above $\sim 100$~GeV in the current data still leaves some room for TeV scale DM particles. More antiproton data at high kinetic energies are needed to constrain the properties of the DM particles.