On the Prospects for Detecting a Net Photon Circular Polarization Produced by Decaying Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential for detecting circular polarization in photons from dark matter decay, highlighting optimal models and experimental sensitivities needed for future detection efforts.

Contribution

It identifies the most promising dark matter interaction models for detecting net photon circular polarization and assesses experimental requirements for observing this signal.

Findings

Detection possible with current or near-future instruments at the Galactic Center

Systematic uncertainties must be constrained to 1% for credible detection

Asymmetric dark matter offers improved prospects for polarization detection

Abstract

If dark matter interactions with Standard Model particles are $CP$-violating, then dark matter annihilation/decay can produce photons with a net circular polarization. We consider the prospects for experimentally detecting evidence for such a circular polarization. We identify optimal models for dark matter interactions with the Standard Model, from the point of view of detectability of the net polarization, for the case of either symmetric or asymmetric dark matter. We find that, for symmetric dark matter, evidence for net polarization could be found by a search of the Galactic Center by an instrument sensitive to circular polarization with an efficiency-weighted exposure of at least $50000~\text{cm}^2~\text{yr}$, provided the systematic detector uncertainties are constrained at the $1\%$ level. Better sensitivity can be obtained in the case of asymmetric dark matter. We discuss the prospects for achieving the needed level of performance using possible detector technologies.