Do Galactic Antiprotons Come from Decaying Dark Matter?

TL;DR

This paper suggests that the antiproton spectrum observed by AMS02 can be explained by decaying dark matter with a specific lifetime, consistent with gamma-ray constraints, and rules out other sources like compact objects.

Contribution

It demonstrates that dark matter decay can account for AMS02 antiprotons within gamma-ray constraints, providing a novel explanation for cosmic-ray observations.

Findings

Dark matter decay with a lifetime of ~5×10^{27} s explains AMS02 antiprotons.

Alternative sources like compact objects are constrained by neutrino observations.

The proposed model is consistent with diffuse gamma-ray background measurements.

Abstract

It is shown that the antiproton spectrum reported by the AMS02 collaboration can be accounted for by dark matter (DM) decay if the residence time in the Galactic halo is of order 90 Myr. The DM lifetime assumed, $ 5 \cdot 10^{27}$ s for DM particle mass of 3 TeV, is shown to be consistent with the constraints of diffuse gamma ray background. Alternative sources of antiprotons, such as those from compact objects, are shown to be strongly constrained by neutrino astronomy and therefore unlikely candidates.