Search for Gamma-Ray Spectral Lines from Dark Matter Annihilation with the H.E.S.S. Inner Galaxy Survey
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Spectral gamma-ray line features are expected as key signatures from dark matter (DM) annihilations of TeV-scale particle DM. Observations of the Galactic Center with atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes are unique to probe thermal-relic TeV particle DM, well beyond the reach of direct detection and collider searches. We report here on the search for line signals in very-high-energy gamma rays using data from the Inner Galaxy Survey, consisting of 546 hours of H.E.S.S. observations of the inner few degrees of the Galactic Center. No significant signal is detected. We then compute the exclusion limits on the annihilation line cross section ⟨σv⟩_{line}, with two-dimensional log-likelihood ratio test statistics, exploiting spectral and spatial features of the DM signal. Assuming an Einasto DM density profile for the Milky Way, our results provide the most constraining limits so far, reaching ⟨σv⟩_{line}=2.3×10^{-28} and 2.4×10^{-27} cm^{3} s^{-1} for DM masses of 1 and 10 TeV, respectively. The present limits are used to constrain the widely searched Wino, Higgsino. and Quintuplet models. For the first time, thermal Higgsino DM is probed for DM Milky Way models.
Source: Physical Review Letters
DOI: 10.1103/d8tj-55kc
Authors: F. Aharonian, H. Ashkar, V. Barbosa Martins, R. Batzofin, Y. Becherini, D. Berge, K. Bernlöhr, M. Böttcher, C. Boisson, J. Bolmont, F. Brun, B. Bruno, T. Bulik, C. Burger-Scheidlin, S. Casanova, J. Celic, M. Cerruti, A. Chen, M. Chernyakova, J. O. Chibueze, O. Chibueze, B. Cornejo, G. Cotter, J. de Assis Scarpin, M. de Bony de Lavergne, M. de Naurois, E. de Oña Wilhelmi, A. G. Delgado Giler, J. Djuvsland, A. Dmytriiev, K. Egberts, K. Egg, C. Escañuela Nieves, M. D. Filipovic, G. Fontaine, S. Funk, S. Gabici, J. F. Glicenstein, J. Glombitza, P. Goswami, B. Hess, J. A. Hinton, W. Hofmann, T. L. Holch, M. Holler, M. Jamrozy, F. Jankowsky, I. Jaroschewski, I. Jung-Richardt, K. Kasprzak, K. Katarzyński, D. Kerszberg, B. Khélifi, N. Komin, K. Kosack, D. Kostunin, R. G. Lang, S. Lazarević, A. Lemière, J.-P. Lenain, P. Liniewicz, A. Luashvili, J. Mackey, D. Malyshev, D. Malyshev, V. Marandon, M. Meyer, A. Mehta, A. M. W. Mitchell, R. Moderski, L. Mohrmann, A. Montanari, E. Moulin, J. Niemiec, L. Olivera-Nieto, M. O. Moghadam, S. Panny, R. D. Parsons, U. Pensec, G. Pühlhofer, A. Quirrenbach, M. Regeard, A. Reimer, O. Reimer, I. Reis, H. Ren, B. Reville, F. Rieger, G. Roellinghoff, G. Rowell, B. Rudak, K. Sabri, V. Sahakian, H. Salzmann, A. Santangelo, M. Sasaki, F. Schüssler, J. N. S. Shapopi, W. Si Said, S. Spencer, Ł. Stawarz, S. Steinmassl, T. Takahashi, T. Tanaka, A. M. Taylor, G. L. Taylor, T. Unbehaun, C. van Eldik, M. Vecchi, C. Venter, J. Vink, T. Wach, S. J. Wagner, A. Wierzcholska, M. Zacharias, A. Zech, W. Zhong, F. Bradascio
Institutions: Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, University of Potsdam, Université Paris Cité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, North-West University, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Saclay, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, University of Warsaw, Institute of Physics, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Dublin City University, University of Namibia, University of Oxford, Aix-Marseille Université, Western Sydney University, Heidelberg University, University of Tübingen, Universität Innsbruck, Jagiellonian University, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Université de Montpellier, Polish Academy of Sciences, The University of Adelaide, A. Alikhanyan National Laboratory, The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, Konan University, University of Groningen, University of Amsterdam
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa, National Research Foundation, Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Austrian Science Fund, Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Narodowe Centrum Nauki, Narodowym Centrum Nauki, Ministère de l'Education Nationale, de l'Enseignement Superieur et de la Recherche, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, National Commission on Research, Science and Technology, University of Namibia, Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Australian Research Council, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers, Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules
OpenAlex ID: W7166839459