Probing super-heavy dark matter with ultra-high-energy gamma rays

TL;DR

This paper refines constraints on super-heavy dark matter decay lifetimes using ultra-high-energy gamma-ray data, highlighting the importance of observational geometry and galactic dark matter models, and revises the viable parameter space for such dark matter.

Contribution

It introduces a more precise analysis of gamma-ray constraints on super-heavy dark matter, considering observational and galactic model uncertainties, updating previous limits.

Findings

UHE gamma-ray constraints are slightly less strict than previous estimates.

Accurate field of view and acceptance considerations significantly impact dark matter lifetime limits.

Revised parameter space allows for potential neutrino flux detection.

Abstract

We refine the constraints on the lifetime of decaying super-heavy dark matter particles (SHDM), with masses ranging from $10^7$ to $10^{15}$ GeV, by analyzing ultra-high-energy (UHE) gamma-ray data. Our approach involves an accurate comparison of the primary gamma-ray emissions resulting from prompt SHDM decays in the galactic halo with the most recent upper limits on isotropic UHE gamma-ray fluxes provided by various extensive air shower experiments. We demonstrate that a precise consideration of the field of view and the geometric acceptance of different UHE gamma-ray observatories has significant implications for the inferred limits of dark matter lifetime. In addition, we examine the influence of uncertainties linked to the current models of the galactic dark matter distribution, employing diverse halo density profiles while varying both their radial extent and the local dark matter density. Our findings indicate that the newly established UHE gamma-ray constraints are marginally less stringent than earlier evaluations, thereby revisiting the SHDM parameter space and allowing for observable neutrino fluxes.