Limits to dark matter annihilation cross-section from a combined analysis of MAGIC and Fermi-LAT observations of dwarf satellite galaxies

TL;DR

This study combines gamma-ray data from MAGIC and Fermi-LAT telescopes to set the most extensive limits yet on dark matter annihilation cross-sections across a wide mass range, enhancing sensitivity over previous analyses.

Contribution

First joint analysis of MAGIC and Fermi-LAT data providing the broadest dark matter mass range limits and a generic approach for future multi-detector searches.

Findings

Limits on dark matter annihilation cross-section improved up to a factor of two.

Extended mass range from 10 GeV to 100 TeV explored.

Method can be applied to future gamma-ray and neutrino data.

Abstract

We present the first joint analysis of gamma-ray data from the MAGIC Cherenkov telescopes and the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) to search for gamma-ray signals from dark matter annihilation in dwarf satellite galaxies. We combine 158 hours of Segue 1 observations with MAGIC with 6-year observations of 15 dwarf satellite galaxies by the Fermi-LAT. We obtain limits on the annihilation cross-section for dark matter particle masses between 10 GeV and 100 TeV - the widest mass range ever explored by a single gamma-ray analysis. These limits improve on previously published Fermi-LAT and MAGIC results by up to a factor of two at certain masses. Our new inclusive analysis approach is completely generic and can be used to perform a global, sensitivity-optimized dark matter search by combining data from present and future gamma-ray and neutrino detectors.