Indirect search for dark matter in the Galactic Centre with IceCube

TL;DR

This paper presents an analysis using IceCube data to search for neutrinos from dark matter annihilation in the Galactic Centre, covering masses from 5 GeV to 1 TeV, with improved sensitivity over previous results.

Contribution

It introduces a new low-energy search method with enhanced sensitivity for detecting dark matter signals in the Galactic Centre using IceCube.

Findings

Significant sensitivity improvements over previous IceCube results.

Coverage of dark matter masses from 5 GeV to 1 TeV.

Enhanced potential to detect neutrinos from dark matter annihilation.

Abstract

Even though there are strong astrophysical and cosmological indications to support the existence of dark matter, its exact nature remains unknown. We expect dark matter to produce standard model particles when annihilating or decaying, assuming that it is composed of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). These standard model particles could in turn yield neutrinos that can be detected by the IceCube neutrino telescope. The Milky Way is expected to be permeated by a dark matter halo with an increased density towards its centre. This halo is expected to yield the strongest dark matter annihilation signal at Earth coming from any celestial object, making it an ideal target for indirect searches. In this contribution, we present the sensitivities of an indirect search for dark matter in the Galactic Centre using IceCube data. This low energy dark matter search allows us to cover dark matter masses ranging from 5 GeV to 1 TeV. The sensitivities obtained for this analysis show considerable improvements over previous IceCube results in the considered energy range.