Uncertainties in the Galactic dark matter distribution: an update

TL;DR

This paper updates the estimation of uncertainties in the Milky Way's dark matter distribution, showing that despite improved measurements, significant uncertainties remain affecting dark matter searches.

Contribution

It provides a refined analysis of astrophysical uncertainties on dark matter distribution using recent data from GRAVITY and GAIA, highlighting persistent uncertainties.

Findings

Uncertainties in dark matter distribution remain sizable.

Recent measurements have narrowed but not eliminated uncertainties.

Implications for dark matter searches are still affected by these uncertainties.

Abstract

We present here a quantitative, accurate estimate of the impact of uncertainties of astrophysical nature on the determination of the dark matter distribution within our Galaxy, the Milky Way. Based on an update of a previous analysis, this work is motivated by recent new determinations of astrophysical quantities of relevance -- such as the Galactic parameters (R0,V0) -- from the GRAVITY collaboration and the GAIA satellite, respectively. We find that even with these state-of-the-art determination and a range of uncertainties -- both statistical and systematic -- much narrowed with respect to previous work, the uncertainties on the dark matter distribution and their impact on searches of physics beyond the standard model stays sizable.