A search for a dark matter annihilation signal towards the Canis Major overdensity with H.E.S.S

Abstract

A search for a dark matter (DM) annihilation signal into $\gamma$-rays toward the direction of the Canis Major (CMa) overdensity is presented. The nature of CMa is still controversial and one scenario represents it as a dwarf galaxy, making it an interesting candidate for DM annihilation searches. A total of 9.6 hours of high quality data were collected with the H.E.S.S. array of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) and no evidence for a very high energy $\gamma$-ray signal is found. Upper limits on the CMa dwarf galaxy mass of the order of 10${}^9$ M${}_{\odot }$ are derived at the 95% C.L. assuming neutralino masses in the range 500 GeV - 10 TeV and relatively large annihilation cross-sections. Constraints on the velocity-weighted annihilation cross section $<\sigma v>$, are calculated for specific WIMP scenarios, using a NFW model for the DM halo profile and taking advantage of numerical simulations of hierarchical structure formation. 95% C.L. exclusion limits of the order of 5 $\times$ 10${}^{-24}$ cm${}^3$ s${}^{-1}$ are reached in the 500 GeV - 10 TeV DM particle mass interval, assuming a total halo mass of 3 $\times$ 10${}^8$ M${}_{\odot }$.

Accepted for publication in ApJ

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