Probing super-heavy dark matter with ultra-high-energy gamma rays

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Hauptverfasser: Chianese, Marco, Saviano, Ninetta, Cesare, Sara, Grieco, Vincenzo M., Nasti, Valentina, Spinnato, Francesca, Tiano, Alessandro
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2026
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author Chianese, Marco
Saviano, Ninetta
Cesare, Sara
Grieco, Vincenzo M.
Nasti, Valentina
Spinnato, Francesca
Tiano, Alessandro
author_facet Chianese, Marco
Saviano, Ninetta
Cesare, Sara
Grieco, Vincenzo M.
Nasti, Valentina
Spinnato, Francesca
Tiano, Alessandro
contents We refine the constraints on the lifetime of decaying super-heavy dark matter particles (SHDM), with masses ranging from $10^7$ to $10^{15}$ GeV, by analyzing ultra-high-energy (UHE) gamma-ray data. Our approach involves an accurate comparison of the primary gamma-ray emissions resulting from prompt SHDM decays in the galactic halo with the most recent upper limits on isotropic UHE gamma-ray fluxes provided by various extensive air shower experiments. We demonstrate that a precise consideration of the field of view and the geometric acceptance of different UHE gamma-ray observatories has significant implications for the inferred limits of dark matter lifetime. In addition, we examine the influence of uncertainties linked to the current models of the galactic dark matter distribution, employing diverse halo density profiles while varying both their radial extent and the local dark matter density. Our findings indicate that the newly established UHE gamma-ray constraints are marginally less stringent than earlier evaluations, thereby revisiting the SHDM parameter space and allowing for observable neutrino fluxes.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_11703
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Probing super-heavy dark matter with ultra-high-energy gamma rays
Chianese, Marco
Saviano, Ninetta
Cesare, Sara
Grieco, Vincenzo M.
Nasti, Valentina
Spinnato, Francesca
Tiano, Alessandro
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
We refine the constraints on the lifetime of decaying super-heavy dark matter particles (SHDM), with masses ranging from $10^7$ to $10^{15}$ GeV, by analyzing ultra-high-energy (UHE) gamma-ray data. Our approach involves an accurate comparison of the primary gamma-ray emissions resulting from prompt SHDM decays in the galactic halo with the most recent upper limits on isotropic UHE gamma-ray fluxes provided by various extensive air shower experiments. We demonstrate that a precise consideration of the field of view and the geometric acceptance of different UHE gamma-ray observatories has significant implications for the inferred limits of dark matter lifetime. In addition, we examine the influence of uncertainties linked to the current models of the galactic dark matter distribution, employing diverse halo density profiles while varying both their radial extent and the local dark matter density. Our findings indicate that the newly established UHE gamma-ray constraints are marginally less stringent than earlier evaluations, thereby revisiting the SHDM parameter space and allowing for observable neutrino fluxes.
title Probing super-heavy dark matter with ultra-high-energy gamma rays
topic High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11703