Milky Way white dwarfs as sub-GeV to multi-TeV dark matter detectors

Acevedo, Javier F.; Leane, Rebecca K.; Santos-Olmsted, Lillian

doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2024/03/042

Milky Way white dwarfs as sub-GeV to multi-TeV dark matter detectors

Journal Article · Tue Mar 19 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2024/03/042· OSTI ID:2396970

^[1]; Leane, Rebecca K. ^[2]; Santos-Olmsted, Lillian ^[3]

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States); SLAC
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics & Cosmology
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)

Here, we show that Milky Way white dwarfs are excellent targets for dark matter (DM) detection. Using Fermi and H.E.S.S. Galactic center gamma-ray data, we investigate sensitivity to DM annihilating within white dwarfs into long-lived or boosted mediators and producing detectable gamma rays. Depending on the Galactic DM distribution, we set new constraints on the spin-independent scattering cross section down to 10^-45-10^-41 cm² in the sub-GeV DM mass range, which is multiple orders of magnitude stronger than existing limits. For a generalized NFW DM profile, we find that our white dwarf constraints exceed spin-independent direct detection limits across most of the sub-GeV to multi-TeV DM mass range, achieving sensitivities as low as about 10^-46 cm². In addition, we improve earlier versions of the DM capture calculation in white dwarfs, by including the low-temperature distribution of nuclei when the white dwarf approaches crystallization. This yields smaller capture rates than previously calculated by a factor of a few up to two orders of magnitude, depending on white dwarf size and the astrophysical system.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Contributing Organization:: KIPAC

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-76SF00515

OSTI ID:: 2396970

Journal Information:: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Journal Issue: 03 Vol. 2024; ISSN 1475-7516

Publisher:: Institute of Physics (IOP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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