Revisiting ultrahigh-energy constraints on decaying super-heavy dark matter

Abstract

We revisit constraints on decaying very heavy dark matter (VHDM) using the latest ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray (UHECR; $E\gtrsim 10^{18}$ eV) data and ultrahigh-energy (UHE) $\gamma$-ray flux upper limits, measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory. We present updated limits on the VHDM lifetime (${\tau }_{\chi }$) for masses up to $\sim 10^{15}$~GeV, considering decay into quarks, leptons, and massive bosons. In particular, we consider not only the UHECR spectrum but their composition data that favors heavier nuclei. Such a combined analysis improves the limits at $\lesssim 10^{12}$ GeV because VHDM decay does not produce UHECR nuclei. We also show that the constraints from the UHE $\gamma$-ray upper limits are $\sim 10$ more stringent than that obtained from cosmic rays, for all of the Standard Model final states we consider. The latter improves our limits to VHDM lifetime by a factor of two for dark matter mass $\gtrsim 10^{12}$ GeV.

9 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in PRD

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• Search for heavy dark matter from dwarf spheroidal galaxies: leveraging cascades and subhalo models
• Probing superheavy dark matter through lunar radio observations of ultrahigh-energy neutrinos and the impacts of neutrino cascades
• Constraints on metastable superheavy dark matter coupled to sterile neutrinos with the Pierre Auger Observatory
• Astrophysical constraints from synchrotron emission on very massive decaying dark matter
• Strong Constraints on Dark Photon and Scalar Dark Matter Decay from INTEGRAL and AMS-02 data
• Revisiting the propagation of highly-energetic gamma rays in the Galaxy
• A relook at the GZK Neutrino-Photon Connection: Impact of Extra-galactic Radio Background & UHECR properties
• Constraints on superheavy dark matter decaying into $h\nu$, $Z\nu$ and $W\ell$ -- Benchmark example within an extended seesaw framework
• LHAASO Galactic Plane $\gamma$-rays Strongly Constrain Heavy Dark Matter
• Gamma rays as leptonic portals to energetic neutrinos: a new Monte Carlo approach
• The Sensitivity of PUEO to Cosmogenic Neutrinos and Exotic Physics Scenarios