Constraining Super-Heavy Dark Matter with the KM3-230213A Neutrino Event

TL;DR

This paper develops a new likelihood framework using the KM3-230213A neutrino event to set the most stringent constraints on super-heavy dark matter decay, highlighting the importance of galactic neutrino flux measurements.

Contribution

Introduces a novel likelihood method combining multi-messenger data to constrain super-heavy dark matter properties using high-energy neutrino observations.

Findings

Lower bound on SHDM lifetime $ extgreater 5 ext{ exttimes}10^{29}$ seconds.

Galactic neutrino flux measurements are crucial for dark matter research.

Future neutrino observations from the Galactic Center can further constrain SHDM contributions.

Abstract

Recently, the KM3NeT collaboration detected an astrophysical neutrino event, KM3-230213A, with an energy of approximately $220~\rm PeV$, providing unprecedented insights into the ultra-high-energy Universe. In this study, we introduce a novel likelihood framework designed to leverage this event to constrain the properties of super-heavy dark matter (SHDM) decay. Our approach systematically integrates multi-messenger constraints from galactic and extragalactic neutrino flux measurements by IceCube, the absence of comparable neutrino events at IceCube and Auger observatories, and the latest gamma-ray experiment upper limits. Our findings impose the most stringent constraints to date, placing a lower bound on the SHDM lifetime at $\gtrsim 5\cdot 10^{29}-10^{30} \rm s$. Importantly, we identify, for the first time, the significant potential of galactic neutrino flux measurements in advancing dark matter research. Future investigations targeting astrophysical neutrinos originating from the Galactic Center at energies above $10~\rm PeV$ will be crucial, not only for understanding the origin of the cosmic-ray knee but also for exploring the possible contributions of super-heavy dark matter to our Universe.