20-December-2008, 10:09 PM
|
 |
Established Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,163
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by borman
Preoccupied with a paradigm
Some theorists are finding the recent results exciting with respect to the possibility of Dark Matter Particles of a particular energy self destructing.
This involves accepting some a priori assumptions that form the basis of the paradigm. The outlook is from the vantage point that the particles are sourced at a particular place and lose energy as they arrive to our detectors.
A couple recent arxiv submissions on the topic within the popular paradigm:
Decaying Hidden Gauge Boson and the PAMELA and ATIC/PPB-BETS Anomalies
Abstract: http://arxiv.org/abs/0811.3357
Distinguishing Between Dark Matter and Pulsar Origins of the ATIC Electron Spectrum With Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes
Abstract: http://arxiv.org/abs/0811.3362 |
OTOH Cosmic-ray electron signatures of dark matter says the spectral shape of the electron excess is insufficient to discriminate a dark-matter origin from more conventional astrophysical explanations. The Case for a 700+ GeV WIMP: Cosmic Ray Spectra from ATIC and PAMELA says look for the gamma ray smoking gun.
None of the papers appears to have evidence to distinguish dark matter annihilation from alternatives, but counting papers shows that dark matter is by far the favorite explanation at the moment. 
|