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Dark matter and fundamental physics with the Cherenkov Telescope Array

Dark matter and fundamental physics with the Cherenkov Telescope Array
Dark matter and fundamental physics with the Cherenkov Telescope Array
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a project for a next-generation observatory for very high energy (GeV–TeV) ground-based gamma-ray astronomy, currently in its design phase, and foreseen to be operative a few years from now. Several tens of telescopes of 2–3 different sizes, distributed over a large area, will allow for a sensitivity about a factor 10 better than current instruments such as H.E.S.S, MAGIC and VERITAS, an energy coverage from a few tens of GeV to several tens of TeV, and a field of view of up to 10°. In the following study, we investigate the prospects for CTA to study several science questions that can profoundly influence our current knowledge of fundamental physics. Based on conservative assumptions for the performance of the different CTA telescope configurations currently under discussion, we employ a Monte Carlo based approach to evaluate the prospects for detection and characterisation of new physics with the array.

First, we discuss CTA prospects for cold dark matter searches, following different observational strategies: in dwarf satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, which are virtually void of astrophysical background and have a relatively well known dark matter density; in the region close to the Galactic Centre, where the dark matter density is expected to be large while the astrophysical background due to the Galactic Centre can be excluded; and in clusters of galaxies, where the intrinsic flux may be boosted significantly by the large number of halo substructures. The possible search for spatial signatures, facilitated by the larger field of view of CTA, is also discussed. Next we consider searches for axion-like particles which, besides being possible candidates for dark matter may also explain the unexpectedly low absorption by extragalactic background light of gamma-rays from very distant blazars. We establish the axion mass range CTA could probe through observation of long-lasting flares in distant sources. Simulated light-curves of flaring sources are also used to determine the sensitivity to violations of Lorentz invariance by detection of the possible delay between the arrival times of photons at different energies. Finally, we mention searches for other exotic physics with CTA.
0927-6505
189-214
Doro, M.
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Conrad, J.
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Emmanoulopoulos, D.
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Sànchez-Conde, M.A.
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Barrio, J.A.
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Birsin, E.
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Bolmont, J.
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Brun, P.
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Colafrancesco, S.
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Connell, S.H.
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Contreras, J.L.
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Daniel, M.K.
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Fornasa, M.
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Gaug, M.
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Glicenstein, J.F.
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González-Muñoz, A.
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Hassan, T.
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Horns, D.
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Jacholkowska, A.
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Jahn, C.
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Mazini, R.
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Mirabal, N.
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Moralejo, A.
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Moulin, E.
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Nieto, D.
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Ripken, J.
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Sandaker, H.
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Schwanke, U.
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Spengler, G.
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Stamerra, A.
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Viana, A.
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Zechlin, H.-S.
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Zimmer, S.
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Doro, M.
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Conrad, J.
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Emmanoulopoulos, D.
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Sànchez-Conde, M.A.
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Barrio, J.A.
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Birsin, E.
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Bolmont, J.
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Brun, P.
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Colafrancesco, S.
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Connell, S.H.
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Contreras, J.L.
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Daniel, M.K.
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Fornasa, M.
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Gaug, M.
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Glicenstein, J.F.
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González-Muñoz, A.
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Hassan, T.
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Horns, D.
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Jacholkowska, A.
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Jahn, C.
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Mazini, R.
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Mirabal, N.
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Moralejo, A.
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Moulin, E.
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Nieto, D.
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Ripken, J.
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Sandaker, H.
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Schwanke, U.
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Spengler, G.
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Stamerra, A.
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Viana, A.
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Zechlin, H.-S.
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Zimmer, S.
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Doro, M., Conrad, J., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Sànchez-Conde, M.A., Barrio, J.A., Birsin, E., Bolmont, J., Brun, P., Colafrancesco, S., Connell, S.H., Contreras, J.L., Daniel, M.K., Fornasa, M., Gaug, M., Glicenstein, J.F., González-Muñoz, A., Hassan, T., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., Jahn, C., Mazini, R., Mirabal, N., Moralejo, A., Moulin, E., Nieto, D., Ripken, J., Sandaker, H., Schwanke, U., Spengler, G., Stamerra, A., Viana, A., Zechlin, H.-S. and Zimmer, S. (2013) Dark matter and fundamental physics with the Cherenkov Telescope Array. [in special issue: Seeing the High-Energy Universe with the Cherenkov Telescope Array - The Science Explored with the CTA] Astroparticle Physics, 43, 189-214. (doi:10.1016/j.astropartphys.2012.08.002).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a project for a next-generation observatory for very high energy (GeV–TeV) ground-based gamma-ray astronomy, currently in its design phase, and foreseen to be operative a few years from now. Several tens of telescopes of 2–3 different sizes, distributed over a large area, will allow for a sensitivity about a factor 10 better than current instruments such as H.E.S.S, MAGIC and VERITAS, an energy coverage from a few tens of GeV to several tens of TeV, and a field of view of up to 10°. In the following study, we investigate the prospects for CTA to study several science questions that can profoundly influence our current knowledge of fundamental physics. Based on conservative assumptions for the performance of the different CTA telescope configurations currently under discussion, we employ a Monte Carlo based approach to evaluate the prospects for detection and characterisation of new physics with the array.

First, we discuss CTA prospects for cold dark matter searches, following different observational strategies: in dwarf satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, which are virtually void of astrophysical background and have a relatively well known dark matter density; in the region close to the Galactic Centre, where the dark matter density is expected to be large while the astrophysical background due to the Galactic Centre can be excluded; and in clusters of galaxies, where the intrinsic flux may be boosted significantly by the large number of halo substructures. The possible search for spatial signatures, facilitated by the larger field of view of CTA, is also discussed. Next we consider searches for axion-like particles which, besides being possible candidates for dark matter may also explain the unexpectedly low absorption by extragalactic background light of gamma-rays from very distant blazars. We establish the axion mass range CTA could probe through observation of long-lasting flares in distant sources. Simulated light-curves of flaring sources are also used to determine the sensitivity to violations of Lorentz invariance by detection of the possible delay between the arrival times of photons at different energies. Finally, we mention searches for other exotic physics with CTA.

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e-pub ahead of print date: 25 August 2012
Published date: March 2013
Organisations: Astronomy Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 401494
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/401494
ISSN: 0927-6505
PURE UUID: c43ecdac-1fda-4a99-acbe-e158f8063e9f
ORCID for D. Emmanoulopoulos: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3335-2446

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Date deposited: 18 Oct 2016 15:46
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 12:47

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Contributors

Author: M. Doro
Author: J. Conrad
Author: D. Emmanoulopoulos ORCID iD
Author: M.A. Sànchez-Conde
Author: J.A. Barrio
Author: E. Birsin
Author: J. Bolmont
Author: P. Brun
Author: S. Colafrancesco
Author: S.H. Connell
Author: J.L. Contreras
Author: M.K. Daniel
Author: M. Fornasa
Author: M. Gaug
Author: J.F. Glicenstein
Author: A. González-Muñoz
Author: T. Hassan
Author: D. Horns
Author: A. Jacholkowska
Author: C. Jahn
Author: R. Mazini
Author: N. Mirabal
Author: A. Moralejo
Author: E. Moulin
Author: D. Nieto
Author: J. Ripken
Author: H. Sandaker
Author: U. Schwanke
Author: G. Spengler
Author: A. Stamerra
Author: A. Viana
Author: H.-S. Zechlin
Author: S. Zimmer

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