Optimization of CTA Dark Matter Searches

• Grant number: 22/16842-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: February 01, 2023
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Vitor de Souza Filho
• Grantee: Júlia Gouvêa Mamprim
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/01089-1 - Cherenkov Telescope Array: construction and first discoveries, AP.ESP

Abstract

The nature of dark matter (DM) has become one of the most compelling mysteries of particle physics on the one hand, and astrophysics and cosmology on the other. In this project we propose to investigate the potentialities of CTA to detect a dark matter signal from its annihilation (or decay) and production of gamma-rays. Due to its large DM content and relative proximity, the Galactic Center (GC) region is expected to be the brightest source of gamma-rays from DM annihilation or decay in the sky by several orders of magnitude. Even considering the strong background from other astrophysical sources, it is one of the most promising sources to detect the presence of new massive DM particles. This project is focused on the astrophysical modeling of the DM signal and the backgrounds in the GC region. The main objective will be to develop new methods and techniques to disentangle the overlapping sources of this region, in order to detect and characterize the DM component with the highest significance. Before CTA data becomes available, we are going to optimize these methods on common analysis of current gamma-ray experiments (Fermi, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, VERITAS, HAWC, LHASSO). The idea is to improve the limits by a combined analysis and at the same time find the optimal method that will be used with CTA when data is available. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MAMPRIM, JULIA G.; GAMBINI, GUILLERMO; ARBELETCHE, LUAN B.; OLEGARIO, MARCOS; DE SOUZA, VITOR. Probing late-time annihilations of oscillating asymmetric dark matter via rotation curves of galaxies. EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL C, v. 85, n. 2, p. 8-pg., 2025-02-07. (22/16842-0, 21/01089-1)