No Arabic abstract
We analyze about 12 years of Fermi-LAT data in the direction of the Andromeda galaxy (M31). We robustly characterize its spectral and morphological properties against systematic uncertainties related to the modeling of the Galactic diffuse emission. We perform this work by adapting and exploiting the potential of the skyFACT adaptive template fitting algorithm. We reconstruct the gamma-ray image of M31 in a template-independent way, and we show that flat spatial models are preferred by data, indicating an extension of the $gamma$-ray emission of about 0.3-0.4 degree for the bulge of M31. This study also suggests that a second component, extending to at least 1 degree, contributes to the observed total emission. We quantify systematic uncertainties related to mis-modeling of Galactic foreground emission at the level of 2.9%.
One of the biggest mysteries in the modern cosmology and galaxy formation is the hideout of the missing baryons. The leading theory of galaxy formation predicts that a huge amount of baryons resides around galaxies extending out to their virial radii in the form of diffuse and hot gas of $10^6-10^7,$K, which is also known as the major component of the circumgalactic medium (CGM). Studies by various groups via different techniques, however, have not reached a consensus on the role of CGM in accounting for the missing baryons, with the estimated contribution ranging from a minor fraction to enclosing the baryon budget of the galaxy. In this work we attempt to measure the mass of missing baryons in CGM with a novel method based on the gamma-ray observations of the extended halo of the Andromeda Galaxy. Since cosmic-ray particles that are generated inside the galaxy will eventually escape to the CGM, they will produce gamma-ray emission via the proton-proton collision with CGM. Different from some traditional measurements which are sensitive only to gas in certain specific temperature range, the hadronic gamma-ray flux is sensitive to baryonic gases in all phases and does not rely on the metallicity in the halo. Our result suggests that the total baryon mass contained within the virial radius is less than $(1.4-5)times 10^{10}M_odot$ according to the gamma-ray intensity obtained with a model-dependent analysis. It implies that the CGM of Andromeda Galaxy may not account for more than $30%$ of the missing baryons, but the result is subject to uncertainties from the gamma-ray intensity upper limit, diffusion coefficient of the CRs in the halo as well as the stellar mass and dark matter halo mass of the galaxy. This method will become more constraining provided better understandings on these issues and more sensitive gamma-ray telescopes in the future.
We combine adaptive template fitting and pixel count statistics in order to assess the nature of the Galactic center excess in Fermi-LAT data. We reconstruct the flux distribution of point sources in the inner Galaxy well below the Fermi-LAT detection threshold, and measure their radial and longitudinal profiles. Point sources and diffuse emission from the Galactic bulge each contributes $mathcal{O}$(10%) of the total emission therein, disclosing a sub-threshold point-source contribution to the Galactic center excess.
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is a nearby ($sim$780 kpc) galaxy similar to our own Milky Way. Observational evidence suggests that it resides in a large halo of dark matter (DM), making it a good target for DM searches. We present a search for gamma rays from M31 using 1017 days of data from the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory. With its wide field of view and constant monitoring, HAWC is well-suited to search for DM in extended targets like M31. No DM annihilation or decay signal was detected for DM masses from 1 to 100 TeV in the $bbar{b}$, $tbar{t}$, $tau^{+}tau^{-}$, $mu^{+}mu^{-}$, and $W^{+}W^{-}$ channels. Therefore we present limits on those processes. Our limits nicely complement the existing body of DM limits from other targets and instruments. Specifically the DM decay limits from our benchmark model are the most constraining for DM masses from 25 TeV to 100 TeV in the $bbar{b}, tbar{t}$ and $mu^{+}mu{-}$ channels. In addition to DM-specific limits, we also calculate general gamma-ray flux limits for M31 in 5 energy bins from 1 TeV to 100 TeV.
The detection of the Fermi Bubbles suggests that spiral galaxies such as the Milky Way can undergo active periods. Using gamma-ray observations, we can investigate the possibility that such structures are present in other nearby galaxies. We have analyzed the region around the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier Catalog M31) for signs of bubble-like emission using TeV gamma-ray data recorded by the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory. We fit a model consisting of two 6 kpc bubbles symmetric about and perpendicular to the M31 galactic plane and assume a power-law distribution for the gamma-ray flux. We compare the emission from these bubble regions to that expected from structures similar to the Fermi Bubbles found in the Milky Way. No significant emission was observed. We report upper limits on the TeV flux from Fermi Bubble structures in M31.
We report on a search for monochromatic $gamma$-ray features in the spectra of galaxy clusters observed by the emph{Fermi} Large Area Telescope. Galaxy clusters are the largest structures in the Universe that are bound by dark matter (DM), making them an important testing ground for possible self-interactions or decays of the DM particles. Monochromatic $gamma$-ray lines provide a unique signature due to the absence of astrophysical backgrounds and are as such considered a smoking-gun signature for new physics. An unbinned joint likelihood analysis of the sixteen most promising clusters using five years of data at energies between 10 and 400 GeV revealed no significant features. For the case of self-annihilation, we set upper limits on the monochromatic velocity-averaged interaction cross section. These limits are compatible with those obtained from observations of the Galactic Center, albeit weaker due to the larger distance to the studied clusters.