Possible Evidence for MeV Dark Matter in Dwarf Spheroidals

Dan Hooper, Francesc Ferrer, Céline Boehm, Joseph Silk, Jacques Paul, N. Wyn Evans, and Michel Casse

Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 161302 – Published 13 October 2004

Abstract

The observed 511 keV emission from the galactic bulge could be due to very light (MeV) annihilating dark matter particles. To distinguish this hypothesis from conventional astrophysical sources, we study dwarf spheroidals in the region observed by the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory/SPI such as Sagittarius. As these galaxies have comparatively few stars, the prospects for 511 keV emission from standard astrophysical scenarios are minimal. The dwarf spheroidals do, however, contain copious amounts of dark matter. The observation of 511 keV emission from Sagittarius should be a “smoking gun” for MeV dark matter.