Published February 10, 2017 | Version v1
Journal article

Polarization of photons emitted by decaying dark matter

  • 1. Sezione INFN di Cagliari, Cagliari (Italy)
  • 2. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny (Russian Federation)
  • 3. Institute for Nuclear Research of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Moscow (Russian Federation)
  • 4. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne (Switzerland)

Description

Radiatively decaying dark matter may be searched through investigating the photon spectrum of galaxies and galaxy clusters. We explore whether the properties of dark matter can be constrained through the study of a polarization state of emitted photons. Starting from the basic principles of quantum mechanics we show that the models of symmetric dark matter are indiscernible by the photon polarization. However, we find that the asymmetric dark matter consisted of Dirac fermions is a source of circularly polarized photons, calling for the experimental determination of the photon state.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2016.11.048

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1016/j.physletb.2016.11.048;
arXiv
arXiv:1610.04532v2;
PII
S0370-2693(16)30711-0;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics Letters. Section B
Journal Volume
765
Journal Page Range
p. 127-131
ISSN
0370-2693
CODEN
PYLBAJ

INIS

Country of Publication
Netherlands
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
48080970
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
FERMIONS; GALAXIES; GALAXY CLUSTERS; NONLUMINOUS MATTER; PHOTON EMISSION; PHOTONS; POLARIZATION; QUANTUM MECHANICS; RADIATIVE DECAY; SYMMETRY
Descriptors DEC
BOSONS; DECAY; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; EMISSION; MASSLESS PARTICLES; MATTER; MECHANICS; PARTICLE DECAY

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2016 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.