Blazar Constraints on Neutrino-Dark Matter Scattering
James M. Cline, Shan Gao, Fangyi Guo, Zhongan Lin, Shiyan Liu, Matteo Puel, Phillip Todd, Tianzhuo Xiao
Abstract
Neutrino emission in coincidence with gamma rays has been observed from the blazar TXS 0506+056 by the IceCube telescope. Neutrinos from the blazar had to pass through a dense spike of dark matter (DM) surrounding the central black hole. The observation of such a neutrino implies new upper bounds on the neutrino-DM scattering cross section as a function of DM mass. The constraint is stronger than existing ones for a range of DM masses, if the cross section rises linearly with energy. For constant cross sections, competitive bounds are also possible, depending on details of the DM spike.
Topics & Concepts
PhysicsNeutrinoBlazarAstrophysicsDark matterParticle physicsScatteringCross section (physics)Gamma rayAstronomyOpticsAstrophysics and Cosmic PhenomenaDark Matter and Cosmic PhenomenaParticle physics theoretical and experimental studies