Abstract
Using the latest AMS-02 cosmic-ray antiproton flux data, we search for a potential dark matter annihilation signal. The background parameters about the propagation, source injection, and solar modulation are not assumed a priori but based on the results inferred from the recent ratio and proton data measurements instead. The possible dark matter signal is incorporated into the model self-consistently under a Bayesian framework. Compared with the astrophysical background-only hypothesis, we find that a dark matter signal is favored. The rest mass of the dark matter particles is , and the velocity-averaged hadronic annihilation cross section is about , in agreement with that needed to account for the Galactic center GeV excess and/or the weak GeV emission from dwarf spheroidal galaxies Reticulum 2 and Tucana III. Tight constraints on the dark matter annihilation models are also set in a wide mass region.
- Received 14 October 2016
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.191101
© 2017 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Synopsis
Antiprotons May Hold Dark Matter Signal
Published 9 May 2017
Recently released data on cosmic-ray antiprotons may contain hints of dark matter, as revealed by two new analyses.
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