Probing Dark Matter Long-lived Mediators with Solar $\gamma$ rays

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that solar gamma-ray observations can effectively probe dark matter models involving long-lived mediators, potentially revealing signals much stronger than those from the Galactic center with minimal background interference.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified model showing solar gamma-ray fluxes as a promising detection channel for dark matter with long-lived mediators, compatible with current constraints.

Findings

Solar gamma-ray fluxes can surpass Galactic center signals.

Next-generation gamma-ray telescopes can observe these fluxes.

Low background levels enhance detection prospects.

Abstract

We show that solar $\gamma$-ray observations can provide a complementary probe of Dark Matter in scenarios where the interactions with the Standard Model proceed via long-lived mediators. For illustration we consider a simplified model which provides solar $\gamma$-ray fluxes observable with the next generation $\gamma$-ray telescopes, while complying with the existing experimental constraints. Our results suggest that solar $\gamma$-ray fluxes can be orders of magnitude larger than the ones from the Galactic center, while being subject to low backgrounds.