Search for Dark Matter WIMPs using Upward Through-going Muons in Super-Kamiokande

TL;DR

This study uses Super-Kamiokande data to search for neutrino signals from WIMP annihilations in celestial bodies, setting upper limits on WIMP properties without detecting a significant excess.

Contribution

First to analyze Super-Kamiokande data for WIMP-induced neutrinos from multiple celestial sources with model-independent flux limits.

Findings

No significant excess of neutrinos detected.

Established upper limits on WIMP-nucleon cross-section.

Results comparable to direct detection experiments.

Abstract

We present the results of indirect searches for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) with 1679.6 live days of data from the Super-Kamiokande detector using neutrino-induced upward through-going muons. The search is performed by looking for an excess of high energy muon neutrinos from WIMP annihilations in the Sun, the core of the Earth, and the Galactic Center, as compared to the number expected from the atmospheric neutrino background. No statistically significant excess was seen. We calculate flux limits in various angular cones around each of the above celestial objects. We obtain conservative model-independent upper limits on WIMP-nucleon cross-section as a function of WIMP mass and compare these results with the corresponding results from direct dark matter detection experiments.