The Case For 10 GeV Dark Matter
Dan Hooper
Fermilab
I will summarize and discuss the body of evidence which has accumulated in
favor of dark matter in the form of approximately 10 GeV particles. This
evidence includes the spectrum and angular distribution of gamma rays from
the Galactic Center, the synchrotron emission from the Milky Way's radio
filaments, the diffuse synchrotron emission from the Inner Galaxy (the
"WMAP Haze") and low-energy signals from the direct detection experiments
DAMA/LIBRA, CoGeNT and CRESST-II. This collection of observations can be
explained by a relatively light dark matter particle with an annihilation
cross section consistent with that predicted for a simple thermal relic
(\sigma v ~ 10^-26 cm^3/s) and with a distribution in the halo of the
Milky Way consistent with that predicted from simulations. Astrophysical
explanations for the gamma ray and synchrotron signals, in contrast,
have not been successful in accommodating these observations. Similarly,
the phase of the annual modulation observed by DAMA/ LIBRA (and now
supported by CoGeNT) is inconsistent with all known or postulated
modulating backgrounds, but are in good agreement with expectations for
dark matter scattering.
Date: | Wednesday, 21 March 2012 |
Time: | 14:30 |
Where: | McGill University |
| Ernest Rutherford Physics Building, R.E. Bell Conference Room (room 103) |
Contact: | Robert Rutledge |
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