Neutrinos from dark matter annihilations at the galactic center

Abstract

We discuss the prospects for detection of high energy neutrinos from dark matter (DM) annihilation at the galactic center (GC). Despite the large uncertainties associated with our poor knowledge of the distribution of dark matter in the innermost regions of the Galaxy, we determine an upper limit on the neutrino flux by requiring that the associated gamma-ray emission does not exceed the observed flux. We conclude that a neutrino flux from the GC will not be observable by Antares if dark matter is made of neutralinos with mass smaller than 650 GeV, while for heavier neutralinos, corresponding to models that will soon be probed by HESS (high energy stereoscopic system), the upper limit on the neutrino flux is barely above the Antares sensitivity. The detection of a larger flux would either require an alternative explanation, in terms of astrophysical processes, or the adoption of other dark matter candidates, disfavouring the case for neutralinos.