Constraints on sterile neutrinos as dark matter candidates from the diffuse X-ray background

Neronov, A.; Boyarsky, A.; Ruchayskiy, O.; Shaposhnikov, M.

Switzerland, France

Abstract

Sterile neutrinos with masses in the kilo-electronvolt range are viable candidates for the warm dark matter. We analyse existing data for the extragalactic diffuse X-ray background for signatures of sterile neutrino decay. The absence of a detectable signal within current uncertainties of background measurements puts model-independent constraints on allowed values of the sterile neutrino mass and mixing angle, which we present in this work.

2006 Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
XMM-Newton 214