Indirect search for dark matter in M 31 with the CELESTE experiment

J. Lavalle (1) , H. Manseri (2) , A. Jacholkowska (1) , E. Brion (3) , R. Britto (1) , Pascal Bruel (2) , J. Bussons Gordo (1) , D. Dumora (3) , E. Durand (3) , E. Giraud (1) , B. Lott (3) , F. Münz (4) , E. Nuss (1) , F. Piron (1) , T. Reposeur (3) , D. A. Smith (3)

1 LPTA - Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Astroparticules
2 LLR - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
3 CENBG - Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux Gradignan
4 APC - AHE - APC - Astrophysique des Hautes Energies

Context: .If dark matter is made of neutralinos, annihilation of such Majorana particles should produce high energy cosmic rays, especially in galaxy halo high density regions like galaxy centres. Aims: .M 31 (Andromeda) is our nearest neighbour spiral galaxy, and both its high mass and its low distance make it a source of interest for the indirect search for dark matter through γ-ray detection. Methods: .The ground based atmospheric Cherenkov telescope CELESTE observed M 31 from 2001 to 2003, in the mostly unexplored energy range 50-500 GeV. Results: .These observations provide an upper limit on the flux above 50 GeV around 10-10 cm-2 s-1 in the frame of supersymmetric dark matter, and more generally on any gamma emission from M 31.

Mots clés: dark matter; indirect detection; gamma-ray astronomy

Domaines: Phénomènes cosmiques de haute energie [astro-ph.HE]; Phénomènes cosmiques de haute energie [astro-ph.HE]; Physique des Hautes Energies - Phénoménologie [hep-ph]

J. Lavalle, H. Manseri, A. Jacholkowska, E. Brion, R. Britto, et al.. Indirect search for dark matter in M 31 with the CELESTE experiment. Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2006, 450, pp.1-8. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361:20054340⟩. ⟨hal-00628187⟩