Cosmic-ray positron from superparticle dark matter and the PAMELA anomaly

Motivated by the anomalous positron flux recently reported by the PAMELA Collaboration, we study the cosmic-ray positron produced by the pair annihilation and the decay of superparticle dark matter. We calculate the cosmic-ray positron flux and discuss implications of the PAMELA data. We show that the positron excess observed by the PAMELA can be explained with some of the superparticle dark matter.     

Primordial black hole as a source of the boost factor

Primordial black holes (PBHs) accumulate weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) around them and form ultracompact minihalos (UCMHs), if the WIMP is a dominant component of the dark matter (DM). In this Letter, we discuss that the UCMHs seeded by the PBHs with sub-earth mass enhance the WIMP annihilation in the present Universe and can successfully explain the positron and/or electron excess in cosmic ray observed by PAMELA/Fermi experiments. The signal is very similar to that from a decaying dark matter, which can explain the PAMELA and/or Fermi anomaly without conflict with any constraints as long as the decay mode is proper. In this scenario, the boost factor can be as large as 10⁵. In addition, we discuss testability of our scenario by gamma-ray point source and gravitational-wave experiments.     

On prospects for dark matter indirect detection in the Constrained MSSM

We apply a rigorous statistical analysis to the Constrained MSSM to derive the most probable ranges of the diffuse gamma radiation flux from the direction of the Galactic center and of the positron flux from the Galactic halo due to neutralino dark matter annihilation, for several different choices of the halo model and propagation model parameters. We find that, for a specified halo profile, and assuming flat priors, the 68% probability range of the integrated γ-ray flux spans about one order of magnitude, while the 95% probability range can be much larger and extend over four orders of magnitude (even exceeding five for a tiny region at small neutralino mass). The detectability of the signal by GLAST depending primarily on the cuspiness of the halo profile. The positron flux, on the other hand, appears to be too small to be detectable by PAMELA, unless the boost factor is at least of order ten and/or the halo profile is extremely cuspy. We also briefly discuss the sensitivity of our results to the choice of priors.     

PAMELA,FGST and sub-TeV dark matter

PAMELA's observation that the cosmic ray positron fraction increases rapidly with energy implies the presence of primary sources of energetic electron–positron pairs. Of particular interest is the possibility that dark matter annihilations in the halo of the Milky Way provide this anomalous flux of antimatter. The recent measurement of the cosmic ray electron spectrum by the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope, however, can be used to constrain the nature of any such dark matter particle. In particular, it has been argued that in order to accommodate the observations of Fermi and provide the PAMELA positron excess, annihilating dark matter particles must be as massive as ∼1 TeV or heavier. In this Letter, we revisit Fermi's electron spectrum measurement within the context of annihilating dark matter, focusing on masses in the range of 100–1000 GeV, and considering effects such as variations in the astrophysical backgrounds from the presence of local cosmic ray accelerators, and the finite energy resolution of the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope. When these factors are taken into account, we find that dark matter particles as light as ∼300 GeV can be capable of generating the positron fraction observed by PAMELA.     

Gamma-rays from nearby clusters: Constraints on selected decaying dark matter models

Recently, the Fermi-LAT Collaboration reported upper limits on the GeV gamma-ray flux from nearby clusters of galaxies. Motivated by these limits, we study corresponding constraints on gamma-ray emissions from two specific decaying dark matter models, one via grand unification scale suppressed operators and the other via R-parity violating operators. Both can account for the PAMELA and Fermi-LAT excesses of e^±$e^{\pm }$. For GUT decaying dark matter, the gamma-rays from the M49 and Fornax clusters, with energy in the range of 1 to 10 GeV, lead to the most stringent constraints to date. As a result, this dark matter is disfavored with conventional model of e^±$e^{\pm }$ background. In addition, it is likely that some tension exists between the Fermi-LAT e^±$e^{\pm }$ excess and the gamma-ray constraints for any decaying dark matter model, provided conventional model of e^±$e^{\pm }$ background is adopted. Nevertheless, the GUT decaying dark matter can still solely account for the PAMELA positron fraction excess without violating the gamma-ray constraints. For the gravitino dark matter model with R-parity violation, cluster observations do not give tight constraints. This is because a different e^±$e^{\pm }$ background has been adopted which leads to relatively light dark matter mass around 200 GeV.     

Model-independent approach for dark matter phenomenology: Signatures in linear colliders and cosmic positron experiments

We have studied the phenomenology of dark matter at the ILC and cosmic positron experiments based on model-independent approach. We have found a strong correlation between dark matter signatures at the ILC and those in the indirect detection experiments of dark matter. Once the dark matter is discovered in the positron experiments such as the PAMELA, its nature will be investigated in detail at the ILC.      

Type II seesaw and the PAMELA/ATIC signals

We discuss how the cosmic ray signals reported by the PAMELA and ATIC/PPB-BETS experiments may be understood in a Standard Model (SM) framework supplemented by type II seesaw and a stable SM singlet scalar boson as dark matter. A particle physics explanation of the ‘boost’ factor can be provided by including an additional SM singlet scalar field.     

Can a Higgs portal Dark Matter be compatible with the anti-proton cosmic-ray?

Recent direct detection experiments of Dark Matter (DM), CoGeNT and DAMA implicate a light DM of a few GeV. Such a light DM would generate a large amount of anti-proton since suppression for anti-proton flux from DM annihilation is ineffective. We discuss whether a light dark matter with mass of 5–15 GeV, which is especially in favor of the recent experiments reported by CoGeNT, is compatible with the anti-proton no excess in the cosmic-ray. In view of the direct detection of DM and no anti-proton excess in the cosmic-ray both, we show that a Dirac DM is favored than a scalar one since there is no s-wave of the annihilation cross section for the Dirac DM. A large elastic cross section for direct detection can be obtained through the additional light Higgs exchange. We show an allowed region that simultaneously satisfies the DM relic density, the elastic cross section favored by CoGeNT and also the constraint of _HLZZ$H_{L}ZZ$ coupling of the light Higgs boson by LEP.     

Status of dark matter detection

The detection of dark matter has made great progresses in recent years. We give a brief review on the status and progress in dark matter detection, including the progresses in direct detection, collider detection at LHC and focus on the indirect detection. The results from PAMELA, ATIC, Fermi-LAT and relevant studies on these results are introduced. Then we give the progress on indirect detection of gamma rays from Fermi-LAT and ground based Cerenkov telescopes. Finally the detection of neutrinos and constraints on the nature of dark matter are reviewed briefly.     

Cosmic-ray antiproton constraints on light singlino-like dark matter candidates

The CoGeNT experiment, dedicated to direct detection of dark matter, has recently released excess events that could be interpreted as elastic collisions of ∼10 GeV dark matter particles, which might simultaneously explain the still mysterious DAMA/LIBRA modulation signals, while in conflict with results from other experiments such as CDMS, XENON-100 and SIMPLE. It was shown that 5-15 GeV singlino-like dark matter candidates arising in singlet extensions of minimal supersymmetric scenarios can fit these data; annihilation then mostly proceeds into light singlet-dominated Higgs (pseudo-)scalar fields. We develop an effective Lagrangian approach to confront these models with the existing data on cosmic-ray antiprotons, including the latest PAMELA data. Focusing on a parameter space consistent with the CoGeNT region, we show that the predicted antiproton flux is generically in tension with the data whenever the produced (pseudo-)scalars can decay into quarks energetic enough to produce antiprotons, provided the annihilation S-wave is significant at freeze out in the early universe. In this regime, a bound on the singlino annihilation cross section is obtained, 〈σv〉?¹⁰−26 cm³/s, assuming a dynamically constrained halo density profile with a local value of ρ_⊙=0.4 GeV/cm³. Finally, we provide indications on how PAMELA or AMS-02 could further constrain or detect those configurations producing antiprotons which are not yet excluded.     

Double-action dark matter,PAMELA and ATIC

Motivated by a two-bump (or 1-peak plus 1-hump) structure in the ATIC data, we perform a statistical analysis fitting the PAMELA and ATIC data to a dark matter model, in which the dark matter particle can undergo both annihilation and decay. Using a chi-square analysis we show that both data can be simultaneously fitted better with such a double-action dark matter particle. We use an existing neutrino mass model in literature to illustrate the idea.     

PAMELA and dark matter

Assuming that the positron excess in PAMELA satellite data is a consequence of annihilations of cold dark matter, we consider from a model-independent perspective if the data show a preference for the spin of dark matter, and find that they do not. We then perform a general analysis of annihilations into two-body states to determine what weighted combination of channels best describes the data.     

Can the morphology of γ-ray emission distinguish annihilating from decaying dark matter?

Recent results from the PAMELA, ATIC, FERMI and HESS experiments have focused attention on the possible existence of high energy cosmic rays e+ e- that may originate from dark matter annihilations or decays in the Milky Way. Here we examine the morphology of the associated γ-ray emission after propagation of the electrons generated by both annihilating and decaying dark matter models. We focus on photon energies of 1, 10, and 50 GeV (relevant for the FERMI satellite) and consider different propagation parameters. Our main conclusion is that distinguishing annihilating from decaying dark matter may only be possible if the propagation parameters correspond to the most optimistic diffusion models. In addition, we point to examples where morphology can lead to an erroneous interpretation of the source injection energy.     

R-violating decay of Wino dark matter and electron/positron excesses in the PAMELA/Fermi experiments

We show that R-parity violating decay of Wino dark matter of mass about 3 TeV can naturally account for the flux and spectral shape of the cosmic-ray electrons and positrons observed by the PAMELA and Fermi satellites. To provide a theoretical basis for the scenario, we present a model in which trilinear R-parity breaking appears with a coefficient suppressed by powers of the gravitino mass, which naturally leads to the Wino lifetime of O(10²⁶) seconds.     

Positron excess,luminous-dark matter unification and family structure

It is commonly assumed that dark matter may be composed of one or at most a few elementary particles. PAMELA data present a window of opportunity into a possible relationship between luminous and dark matter. Along with ATIC data the two positron excesses are interpreted as a reflection of dark matter family structure. In a unified model it is predicted that at least a third enhancement might show up at a different energy. The strength of the enhancements however depends on interfamily mixing angles.     

Supersymmetric extension of the minimal dark matter model

The minimal dark matter model is given a supersymmetric extension. A super SU(2)_L quintuplet is introduced with its fermionic neutral component still being the dark matter, and the dark matter mass is about 19.7 TeV. Mass splitting among the quintplet due to supersymmetry particles is found to be negligibly small compared to the electroweak corrections. Other properties of this supersymmetry model are studied, it has the solutions to the PAMELA and Fermi-LAT anomaly, and the predictions in higher energies need further experimental data to verify them.     

Direct and indirect detection of dark matter in D6 flavor symmetric model

We study fermionic dark matter in a non-supersymmetric extension of the standard model with a family symmetry based on D₆ ×[^(Z)]₂×Z₂D_{6} \times\hat{Z}_{2}\times Z_{2}. In our model, the final state of the dark matter annihilation is determined to be e ⁺ e ⁻ by the flavor symmetry, which is consistent with the PAMELA result. At first, we show that our dark matter mass should be within the range of 230 GeV–750 GeV in the WMAP analysis combined with μ→eγ constraint. Moreover, we simultaneously explain the experiments of direct and indirect detection, by simply adding a gauge and D ₆ singlet real scalar field. In the direct detection experiments, we show that the lighter dark matter mass ≃230 GeV and the lighter standard model Higgs boson ≃115 GeV are in favor of the observed bounds reported by CDMS II and XENON100. In the indirect detection experiments, we explain the positron excess reported by PAMELA through the Breit–Wigner enhancement mechanism. We also show that our model is consistent with there being no antiproton excess, as suggested by PAMELA.     

The diffuse Galactic γ-rays from dark matter annihilation

The diffuse Galactic γ-rays from EGRET observation shows excesses above 1 GeV in comparison with the expectations from conventional Galactic cosmic ray (CR) propagation model. In the work we try to solve the “GeV excess” problem by dark matter (DM) annihilation in the frame of supersymmetry (SUSY). Compared with previous works, there are three aspects improved in this work: first, the direction-independent “boost factor” for diffuse γ-rays from dark matter annihilation (DMA) is naturally reproduced by taking the DM substructures into account; second, there is no need for renormalization of the diffuse γ-ray background produced by CRs; last but not the least, in this work our new propagation model can give consistent results of both diffuse γ-rays and antiprotons, by directly adding the signals from DMA to the diffuse γ-ray background. This is a self-consistent model among several possible scenarios at present, and can be tested or optimized by the forthcoming experiments such as GLAST, PAMELA and AMS02.     

On the cosmic-ray spectra of three-body lepton-flavor-violating dark matter decays

We consider possible leptonic three-body decays of spin-1/2, charge-asymmetric dark matter. Assuming a general Dirac structure for the four-fermion contact interactions of interest, we study the cosmic-ray electron and positron spectra and show that good fits to the current data can be obtained for both charged-lepton-flavor-conserving and flavor-violating decay channels. We find that different choices for the Dirac structure of the underlying decay operator can be significantly compensated by different choices for the dark matter mass and lifetime. The decay modes we consider provide differing predictions for the cosmic-ray positron fraction at energies higher than those currently probed at the PAMELA experiment; these predictions might be tested at cosmic-ray detectors like AMS-02.