Dark Matter Annihilation Phenomena in Astrophysical Systems
Summary
Dark matter annihilation occurs when two dark matter particles collide and transform into Standard Model particles, yielding observable signals such as gamma rays, radio emission and neutrinos. These processes are most prominent in regions of high dark matter density, including galactic centres, dwarf spheroidal galaxies and galaxy clusters. Contemporary research integrates multiwavelength observations with advanced simulations to disentangle faint annihilation signatures from astrophysical backgrounds. This synergy has refined constraints on particle properties, notably the annihilation cross section, and has illuminated the role of dark matter in cosmic structure formation. The global significance of these studies spans fundamental particle physics, cosmology and the interpretation of high-energy astrophysical surveys.
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Dark Matter Annihilation Phenomena in Astrophysical Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in dark matter annihilation phenomena in astrophysical systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Dark matter annihilation: Self-annihilation of dark matter particles producing Standard Model particles and radiation.
WIMP: Hypothetical weakly interacting massive particle candidate for dark matter.
J factor: Integrated line-of-sight dark matter density squared, governing expected annihilation flux.
Synchrotron radiation: Emission from relativistic charged particles spiralling in magnetic fields.
Inverse Compton scattering: Process by which high-energy electrons transfer energy to low-energy photons.
References
- On the Gamma-Ray Emission of the Andromeda Galaxy M31. The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2023).
- Constraining Annihilating Dark Matter Using the Multifrequency Radio Flux Profiles of the M33 Galaxy. The Astrophysical Journal (2024).
- MHz to TeV expectations from scotogenic WIMP dark matter. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2024).
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