Is dark matter visible by galactic gamma rays?

Abstract

The EGRET excess in the diffuse galactic gamma ray data above 1 GeV shows all features expected from dark matter WIMP annihilation: (a) It is present and has the same spectrum in all sky directions, not just in the galactic plane. (b) The intensity of the excess shows the 1/r 2 profile expected for a flat rotation curve outside the galactic disc with an additionally interesting substructure in the disc in the form of a doughnut-shaped ring at 14 kpc from the centre of the galaxy. At this radius a ring of stars indicates the probable infall of a dwarf galaxy, which can explain the increase in DM density. From the spectral shape of the excess the WIMP mass is estimated to be between 50 and 100 GeV, while from the intensity the halo profile is reconstructed. Given the mass and intensity of the WIMPs the mass of the ring can be calculated, which is shown to explain the peculiar change of slope in the rotation curve at about 11 kpc. These results are model-independent in the sense that only the known shapes of signal and background were fitted with free normalization factors, thus being independent of model-dependent flux calculations. The statistical significance is more than 10σ in comparison with a fit of the conventional galactic model to the EGRET data. These signals of dark matter annihilation are compatible with supersymmetry including all electroweak constraints. The statistical significance combined with all features mentioned above provide an intriguing hint that the EGRET excess is indeed a signal from dark matter annihilation.