Identifying dark matter signals by the radio continuum spectral data of the cool-core cluster RX J1720.1+2638

TL;DR

This study analyzes radio spectral data from the galaxy cluster RX J1720.1+2638 to explore potential signals of dark matter annihilation, suggesting possible evidence based on synchrotron emission models.

Contribution

It demonstrates that radio spectral data can be explained by dark matter annihilation models, providing potential evidence for dark matter signals in galaxy clusters.

Findings

Radio spectral data can be explained by dark matter annihilation models.

Dark matter annihilation channels fit the spectral data despite coarse measurements.

Results suggest possible positive evidence for dark matter in the cluster.

Abstract

Investigating the signals of dark matter annihilation is one of the most popular ways to understand the nature of dark matter. In particular, many recent studies are focussing on using radio data to examine the possible signals of dark matter revealed in galaxies and galaxy clusters. In this article, we investigate on the spectral data of the central radio halo of the cool-core cluster RX J1720.1+2638. We show that the radio spectral data can be best accounted by the synchrotron emission due to dark matter annihilation via $\tau$ lepton channel (with dark matter mass $m=15$ GeV) or $b$ quark channel (with dark matter mass $m=110$ GeV), although using the very coarse spectral data with notable errors. Despite the fact that cosmic-ray emission can also provide a good explanation for the observed radio spectrum, our results suggest a possible positive evidence for dark matter annihilation revealed in the form of radio emission in RX J1720.1+2638 cluster.