Cosmological implications of photon-flux upper limits at ultra-high energies in scenarios of Planckian-interacting massive particles for dark matter
Creators: name: The Pierre Auger Collaboration
name: Abreu, P.
name: Aglietta, M.
name: Albury, J. M.
name: Allekotte, I.
name: Cheminant, K. Almeida
name: Almela, A.
name: Alvarez-Muñiz, J.
name: Batista, R. Alves
name: Yebra, J. Ammerman
name: Anastasi, G. A.
name: Anchordoqui, L.
name: Andrada, B.
name: Andringa, S.
name: Aramo, C.
name: Ferreira, P. R. Araújo
name: Arnone, E.
name: Velázquez, J. C. Arteaga
name: Asorey, H.
name: Assis, P.
name: Avila, G.
name: Avocone, E.
name: Badescu, A. M.
name: Bakalova, A.
name: Balaceanu, A.
name: Barbato, F.
name: Bellido, J. A.
name: Berat, C.
name: Bertaina, M. E.
name: Bhatta, G.
name: Biermann, P. L.
name: Binet, V.
name: Bismark, K.
name: Bister, T.
name: Biteau, J.
name: Blazek, J.
name: Bleve, C.
name: Blümer, J.
name: Boháčová, M.
name: Boncioli, D.
name: Bonifazi, C.
name: Arbeletche, L. Bonneau
name: Borodai, N.
name: Botti, A. M.
name: Brack, J.
name: Bretz, T.
name: Orchera, P. G. Brichetto
name: Briechle, F. L.
name: Buchholz, P.
name: Bueno, A.
name: Buitink, S.
name: Buscemi, M.
name: Büsken, M.
name: Caballero-Mora, K. S.
name: Caccianiga, L.
name: Canfora, F.
name: Caracas, I.
name: Caruso, R.
name: Castellina, A.
name: Catalani, F.
name: Cataldi, G.
name: Cazon, L.
name: Cerda, M.
name: Chinellato, J. A.
name: Chudoba, J.
name: Chytka, L.
name: Clay, R. W.
name: Cerutti, A. C. Cobos
name: Colalillo, R.
name: Coleman, A.
name: Coluccia, M. R.
name: Conceição, R.
name: Condorelli, A.
name: Consolati, G.
name: Contreras, F.
name: Convenga, F.
name: Santos, D. Correia dos
name: Covault, C. E.
name: Dasso, S.
name: Daumiller, K.
name: Dawson, B. R.
name: Day, J. A.
name: de Almeida, R. M.
name: de Jesús, J.
name: de Jong, S. J.
name: Neto, J. R. T. de Mello
name: De Mitri, I.
name: de Oliveira, J.
name: Franco, D. de Oliveira
name: de Palma, F.
name: de Souza, V.
name: De Vito, E.
name: Del Popolo, A.
name: del Río, M.
name: Deligny, O.
name: Deval, L.
name: di Matteo, A.
name: Dobre, M.
name: Dobrigkeit, C.
name: D'Olivo, J. C.
name: Mendes, L. M. Domingues
name: Anjos, R. C. dos
name: Dova, M. T.
name: Ebr, J.
name: Engel, R.
name: Epicoco, I.
name: Erdmann, M.
name: Escobar, C. O.
name: Etchegoyen, A.
name: Falcke, H.
name: Farmer, J.
name: Farrar, G.
name: Fauth, A. C.
name: Fazzini, N.
name: Feldbusch, F.
name: Fenu, F.
name: Fick, B.
name: Figueira, J. M.
name: Filipčič, A.
name: Fitoussi, T.
name: Fodran, T.
name: Fujii, T.
name: Fuster, A.
name: Galea, C.
name: Galelli, C.
name: García, B.
name: Vegas, A. L. Garcia
name: Gemmeke, H.
name: Gesualdi, F.
name: Gherghel-Lascu, A.
name: Ghia, P. L.
name: Giaccari, U.
name: Giammarchi, M.
name: Glombitza, J.
name: Gobbi, F.
name: Gollan, F.
name: Golup, G.
name: Berisso, M. Gómez
name: Vitale, P. F. Gómez
name: Gongora, J. P.
name: González, J. M.
name: González, N.
name: Goos, I.
name: Góra, D.
name: Gorgi, A.
name: Gottowik, M.
name: Grubb, T. D.
name: Guarino, F.
name: Guedes, G. P.
name: Guido, E.
name: Hahn, S.
name: Hamal, P.
name: Hampel, M. R.
name: Hansen, P.
name: Harari, D.
name: Harvey, V. M.
name: Haungs, A.
name: Hebbeker, T.
name: Heck, D.
name: Hill, G. C.
name: Hojvat, C.
name: Hörandel, J. R.
name: Horvath, P.
name: Hrabovský, M.
name: Huege, T.
name: Insolia, A.
name: Isar, P. G.
name: Janecek, P.
name: Johnsen, J. A.
name: Jurysek, J.
name: Kääpä, A.
name: Kampert, K. H.
name: Keilhauer, B.
name: Khakurdikar, A.
name: Covilakam, V. V. Kizakke
name: Klages, H. O.
name: Kleifges, M.
name: Kleinfeller, J.
name: Knapp, F.
name: Kunka, N.
name: Lago, B. L.
name: Langner, N.
name: de Oliveira, M. A. Leigui
name: Lenok, V.
name: Letessier-Selvon, A.
name: Lhenry-Yvon, I.
name: Presti, D. Lo
name: Lopes, L.
name: López, R.
name: Lu, L.
name: Luce, Q.
name: Lundquist, J. P.
name: Payeras, A. Machado
name: Mancarella, G.
name: Mandat, D.
name: Manning, B. C.
name: Manshanden, J.
name: Mantsch, P.
name: Marafico, S.
name: Mariani, F. M.
name: Mariazzi, A. G.
name: Mariş, I. C.
name: Marsella, G.
name: Martello, D.
name: Martinelli, S.
name: Bravo, O. Martínez
name: Mastrodicasa, M.
name: Mathes, H. J.
name: Matthews, J.
name: Matthiae, G.
name: Mayotte, E.
name: Mayotte, S.
name: Mazur, P. O.
name: Medina-Tanco, G.
name: Melo, D.
name: Menshikov, A.
name: Michal, S.
name: Micheletti, M. I.
name: Miramonti, L.
name: Mollerach, S.
name: Montanet, F.
name: Morejon, L.
name: Morello, C.
name: Mostafá, M.
name: Müller, A. L.
name: Muller, M. A.
name: Mulrey, K.
name: Mussa, R.
name: Muzio, M.
name: Namasaka, W. M.
name: Nasr-Esfahani, A.
name: Nellen, L.
name: Nicora, G.
name: Niculescu-Oglinzanu, M.
name: Niechciol, M.
name: Nitz, D.
name: Norwood, I.
name: Nosek, D.
name: Novotny, V.
name: Nožka, L.
name: Nucita, A
name: Núñez, L. A.
name: Oliveira, C.
name: Palatka, M.
name: Pallotta, J.
name: Papenbreer, P.
name: Parente, G.
name: Parra, A.
name: Pawlowsky, J.
name: Pech, M.
name: Pękala, J.
name: Pelayo, R.
name: Peña-Rodriguez, J.
name: Martins, E. E. Pereira
name: Armand, J. Perez
name: Bertolli, C. Pérez
name: Perrone, L.
name: Petrera, S.
name: Petrucci, C.
name: Pierog, T.
name: Pimenta, M.
name: Pirronello, V.
name: Platino, M.
name: Pont, B.
name: Pothast, M.
name: Privitera, P.
name: Prouza, M.
name: Puyleart, A.
name: Querchfeld, S.
name: Rautenberg, J.
name: Ravignani, D.
name: Reininghaus, M.
name: Ridky, J.
name: Riehn, F.
name: Risse, M.
name: Rizi, V.
name: de Carvalho, W. Rodrigues
name: Rojo, J. Rodriguez
name: Roncoroni, M. J.
name: Rossoni, S.
name: Roth, M.
name: Roulet, E.
name: Rovero, A. C.
name: Ruehl, P.
name: Saftoiu, A.
name: Saharan, M.
name: Salamida, F.
name: Salazar, H.
name: Salina, G.
name: Gomez, J. D. Sanabria
name: Sánchez, F.
name: Santos, E. M.
name: Santos, E.
name: Sarazin, F.
name: Sarmento, R.
name: Sarmiento-Cano, C.
name: Sato, R.
name: Savina, P.
name: Schäfer, C. M.
name: Scherini, V.
name: Schieler, H.
name: Schimassek, M.
name: Schimp, M.
name: Schlüter, F.
name: Schmidt, D.
name: Scholten, O.
name: Schoorlemmer, H.
name: Schovánek, P.
name: Schröder, F. G.
name: Schulte, J.
name: Schulz, T.
name: Sciutto, S. J.
name: Scornavacche, M.
name: Segreto, A.
name: Sehgal, S.
name: Shellard, R. C.
name: Sigl, G.
name: Silli, G.
name: Sima, O.
name: Smau, R.
name: Šmída, R.
name: Sommers, P.
name: Soriano, J. F.
name: Squartini, R.
name: Stadelmaier, M.
name: Stanca, D.
name: Stanič, S.
name: Stasielak, J.
name: Stassi, P.
name: Streich, A.
name: Suárez-Durán, M.
name: Sudholz, T.
name: Suomijärvi, T.
name: Supanitsky, A. D.
name: Szadkowski, Z.
name: Tapia, A.
name: Taricco, C.
name: Timmermans, C.
name: Tkachenko, O.
name: Tobiska, P.
name: Peixoto, C. J. Todero
name: Tomé, B.
name: Torrès, Z.
name: Travaini, A.
name: Travnicek, P.
name: Trimarelli, C.
name: Tueros, M.
name: Ulrich, R.
name: Unger, M.
name: Vaclavek, L.
name: Vacula, M.
name: Galicia, J. F. Valdés
name: Valore, L.
name: Varela, E.
name: Vásquez-Ramírez, A.
name: Veberič, D.
name: Ventura, C.
name: Quispe, I. D. Vergara
name: Verzi, V.
name: Vicha, J.
name: Vink, J.
name: Vorobiov, S.
name: Wahlberg, H.
name: Watanabe, C.
name: Watson, A. A.
name: Weindl, A.
name: Wiencke, L.
name: Wilczyński, H.
name: Wittkowski, D.
name: Wundheiler, B.
name: Yushkov, A.
name: Zapparrata, O.
name: Zas, E.
name: Zavrtanik, D.
name: Zavrtanik, M.
name: Zehrer, L.
name: Aloisio, R.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE)
subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Using the data of the Pierre Auger Observatory, we report on a search for signatures that would be suggestive of super-heavy particles decaying in the Galactic halo. From the lack of signal, we present upper limits for different energy thresholds above ${\gtrsim}10^8$\,GeV on the secondary by-product fluxes expected from the decay of the particles. Assuming that the energy density of these super-heavy particles matches that of dark matter observed today, we translate the upper bounds on the particle fluxes into tight constraints on the couplings governing the decay process as a function of the particle mass. Instantons, which are non-perturbative solutions to Yang-Mills equations, can give rise to decay channels otherwise forbidden and transform stable particles into meta-stable ones. Assuming such instanton-induced decay processes, we derive a bound on the reduced coupling constant of gauge interactions in the dark sector: $α_X \lesssim 0.09$, for $10^{9} \lesssim M_X/\text{GeV} &lt; 10^{19}$. Conversely, we obtain that, for instance, a reduced coupling constant $α_X = 0.09$ excludes masses $M_X \gtrsim 3\times 10^{13}~$GeV. In the context of dark matter production from gravitational interactions alone during the reheating epoch, we derive constraints on the parameter space that involves, in addition to $M_X$ and $α_X$, the Hubble rate at the end of inflation, the reheating efficiency, and the non-minimal coupling of the Higgs with curvature.
description: 15 pages, 8 figures, Accompanying paper of arXiv:2203.08854, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D