Search for Dark Matter Annihilation and Decay with H$α$ Line Emission
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arXiv
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| Formato: | Preprint |
| Publicado: |
2025
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| _version_ | 1866917135802957824 |
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| author | Leane, Rebecca K. |
| author_facet | Leane, Rebecca K. |
| contents | I present a new indirect search for dark matter (DM) using Hydrogen-$α$ (H$α$) recombination emission. DM annihilation or decay products can ionize neutral gas; subsequent recombination cascades generate H$α$ photons through the $3\rightarrow2$ transition. In quiet gas-rich dwarf galaxies, the $n{=}2$ population is negligible, so H$α$ is effectively unabsorbed and traces the DM-energy injection site. Using the non-detection of extended H$α$ emission in the Leo T dwarf galaxy with Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) observations, I derive the first H$α$-based limits on DM annihilation and decay, reaching leading sensitivity for parts of the eV-GeV mass range. Existing and upcoming telescopes can further extend this reach, establishing H$α$ imaging as a powerful DM search strategy. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_09019 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Search for Dark Matter Annihilation and Decay with H$α$ Line Emission Leane, Rebecca K. High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Astrophysics of Galaxies High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena I present a new indirect search for dark matter (DM) using Hydrogen-$α$ (H$α$) recombination emission. DM annihilation or decay products can ionize neutral gas; subsequent recombination cascades generate H$α$ photons through the $3\rightarrow2$ transition. In quiet gas-rich dwarf galaxies, the $n{=}2$ population is negligible, so H$α$ is effectively unabsorbed and traces the DM-energy injection site. Using the non-detection of extended H$α$ emission in the Leo T dwarf galaxy with Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) observations, I derive the first H$α$-based limits on DM annihilation and decay, reaching leading sensitivity for parts of the eV-GeV mass range. Existing and upcoming telescopes can further extend this reach, establishing H$α$ imaging as a powerful DM search strategy. |
| title | Search for Dark Matter Annihilation and Decay with H$α$ Line Emission |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Astrophysics of Galaxies High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.09019 |