Minding the MeV Gap: the Indirect Detection of Low Mass Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential for detecting low mass dark matter particles indirectly through gamma ray signatures, highlighting how upcoming instruments could significantly enhance detection sensitivity in the MeV energy range.

Contribution

It analyzes the prospects for indirect detection of low mass dark matter via gamma rays, emphasizing the impact of new telescopes on sensitivity improvements.

Findings

Planned gamma ray telescopes can improve sensitivity by up to a few orders of magnitude.

Photon and neutral pion signatures dominate for dark matter below 280 MeV.

Detection prospects are promising for dark matter coupling to quarks in this mass range.

Abstract

We consider the prospects for the indirect detection of low mass dark matter which couples dominantly to quarks. If the center of mass energy is below about 280 MeV, the kinematically allowed final states will be dominated by photons and neutral pions, producing striking signatures at gamma ray telescopes. In fact, an array of new instruments have been proposed, which would greatly improve sensitivity to photons in this energy range. We find that planned instruments can improve on current sensitivity to dark matter models of this type by up to a few orders of magnitude.