SESDA Staff Support the Search for Dark Matter
April 24, 2014
SESDA staff at the Fermi Science Support Center are aiding in the dissemination of data from the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope – data that are now providing the best evidence yet for the existence of dark matter at the center of our galaxy. Dark matter is believed to make up most of the material universe, but can’t be directly observed. Instead, scientists can use the LAT to look for evidence of the gamma-rays, which are thought to be released when dark matter particles collide or annihilate each other.
New LAT data from the center of the Milky Way Galaxy show that this area produces a higher flux of gamma-rays than can be explained by known gamma-ray sources, such as pulsars and cosmic-ray collisions. This excess is consistent with what would be expected from dark matter.
At left is a map of gamma-rays with energies between 1 and 3.16 GeV detected in the galactic center by Fermi’s LAT; red indicates the greatest number. Prominent pulsars are labeled. Removing all known gamma-ray sources (right) reveals excess emission that may arise from dark matter annihilations. Image Credit: T. Linden, Univ. of Chicago.
SESDA staff are working to improve the efficiency and reliability of the LAT data server, which is the main portal through which scientists access Fermi data. More information about this research can be found here:
http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/fermi-data-tantalize-with-new-clues-to-dark-matter/index.html#.U1aQ7VfHhzY
