Searching for TeV DM evidence from Dwarf Irregular Galaxies with the HAWC Observatory

TL;DR

This study used two years of HAWC Observatory data to search for dark matter signals in dwarf irregular galaxies, setting upper limits on the dark matter annihilation cross-section due to the absence of detected signals.

Contribution

It is the first to analyze HAWC data specifically targeting dwarf irregular galaxies for dark matter evidence and to establish upper limits on annihilation cross-sections.

Findings

No significant dark matter signal detected from dIrr galaxies.

Established upper limits on dark matter annihilation cross-section.

Demonstrated HAWC's capability for dark matter searches in dwarf galaxies.

Abstract

The dynamics of dwarf irregular (dIrr) galaxies are observed to be dominated by dark matter (DM). Recently, the DM density distribution has been studied for 31 dIrrs. Their extended DM halo (Burket type profile) makes these objects good candidates for DM searches. Located in Puebla (Mexico), the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory is an optimal in- strument to perform such DM searches, because of its large sky coverage (8.4 sr per day). We analyzed a set of two years of HAWC data and we found no significant DM signal from dIrr galaxies. We present the upper limits for DM annihilation cross-section with dIrr galaxies.