Sub-keV dark matter can strongly ionize molecular clouds
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arXiv
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| Auteurs principaux: | , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Publié: |
2025
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| _version_ | 1866915879256588288 |
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| author | Luque, Pedro De la Torre Carenza, Pierluca Nguyen, Thong T. Q. |
| author_facet | Luque, Pedro De la Torre Carenza, Pierluca Nguyen, Thong T. Q. |
| contents | We show that the ionization of dense molecular clouds can be used to set strong constraints on dark matter models producing UV/X-ray photons in their annihilation or decay. We place robust and competitive constraints on various dark matter models, such as axion-like particles, scalars and sterile neutrinos, for masses between $\sim30$~eV and $10$~keV, and project forecasts to illustrate the potential of this target. We discuss how these constraints can be significantly improved by considering a more refined sample of molecular clouds near the Galactic Center and above the Galactic plane, a detailed modeling of the cosmic-ray ionization contribution and, potentially, a more refined analysis of the gas density in clouds through dust extinction maps. Thus, ionization of molecular clouds emerges as one of the most powerful tools for probing sub-keV dark matter. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_01962 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Sub-keV dark matter can strongly ionize molecular clouds Luque, Pedro De la Torre Carenza, Pierluca Nguyen, Thong T. Q. High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics Astrophysics of Galaxies High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena We show that the ionization of dense molecular clouds can be used to set strong constraints on dark matter models producing UV/X-ray photons in their annihilation or decay. We place robust and competitive constraints on various dark matter models, such as axion-like particles, scalars and sterile neutrinos, for masses between $\sim30$~eV and $10$~keV, and project forecasts to illustrate the potential of this target. We discuss how these constraints can be significantly improved by considering a more refined sample of molecular clouds near the Galactic Center and above the Galactic plane, a detailed modeling of the cosmic-ray ionization contribution and, potentially, a more refined analysis of the gas density in clouds through dust extinction maps. Thus, ionization of molecular clouds emerges as one of the most powerful tools for probing sub-keV dark matter. |
| title | Sub-keV dark matter can strongly ionize molecular clouds |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics Astrophysics of Galaxies High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.01962 |