Upper limits on the dark matter content in globular clusters

Abstract

We present a systematic analysis on the possible presence of dark mass components inside globular clusters (GCs). A spherical Jeans analysis is applied to the stellar kinematics of 10 nearby GCs. On top of the mass distribution provided by the luminous stellar component, we add either dark matter (DM), described by an NFW or Burkert mass profile, or an intermediate mass black-hole (IMBH), described by a point-like mass. Their existence would have important implications in the context of indirect DM searches. After profiling over the stellar parameters, we find no evidence neither for DM nor for IMBH. Upper limits on the two components are reported.