Dark Matter and Astroparticle Physics Group

[group members] [news] [Pubs written in group] [Pubs with direct contributions]

Welcome to the DMAP Group webpage

We are currently focusing on astrophysical detection of particle dark matter.

One way to look for particle dark matter is by detectors placed in deep underground mines, an approach dubbed direct detection. We are involved in the XENON programme as well as preparations for the next-to-next generation noble gas detector DARWIN . We are closely working together with colleagues at Chalmers in Gothenburg (Riccardo Catena, Christian Forssen) on phenomenological aspects of direct detection in the context of the Swedish Dark Matter Direct Detection Consortium (SweDCube).

Another approach is called indirect detection of particle dark matter with gamma rays using the satellite Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) as well as the Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescope H.E.S.S.. We are also involved in preparations for the next generation Air Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA . Finally, we work on a statistical inference tool that will allow to combine these results also in the context of collider searches GAMBIT.

This page will inform you about the members of our group and recent news regarding science performed in the group, grants, prizes, press etc... We will also provide a list of selected publications in the last years, but only the papers where members of the group are among the corresponding authors or have contributed directly and significantly. For group picture look here )



Group members

Sara Algeri grad. student, statistics (jointly with D. v. Dyk, Imperial College London) statistical methods
Boris Bauermeister postdoc (XENON) computing, co-lead "Analysis Tools working group"
Jakob Calvén grad. student analysis
Andrea Chiappo grad. student (Fermi) searches in dwarf galaxies
Jan Conrad professor (CTA, Fermi, HESS, DARWIN, XENON) PI
Knut Dundas Morå grad. student (XENON) WIMP physics task co-lead
Benjamin Farmer postdoc (GAMBIT, direct detection) data analysis, Effective Field Theory, Simplified Models
Alfredo Ferella researcher (XENON) XENONnT PMT testing (SUXeS)
Nils Håkansson postdoc (Fermi,CTA) searches in dwarf galaxies
Joern Mahlstedt postdoc (XENON) computing, simulation, SUXeS
Bart Pelssers grad. student (XENON) position reconstruction, annual modulation
Robert Wagner VR researcher (CTA, HESS) CTA Starguider, common PMT test facilities, AGN physics

Former members Brandon Anderson (postdoc) Alessandro Cuoco (post-doc --> Torino --> Aachen ) Hugh Dickinson (post-doc --> Iowa State) M. Garde Lindholm (grad.student --> Uppsala University outreach) Gregory Martinez (post-doc --> UCLA) Manuel Meyer (postdoc ---> Humboldt fellow at Stanford University) Christine Meurer (post-doc --> RWTH Aachen) Antje Putze (OKC fellow --> RWTH Aachen--> Annecy-->Industry) Joachim Ripken (post-doc --> MPI Solar Physics) Miguel Sánchez-Conde (post-doc --> permanet Madrid Alexander Sellerholm (grad. student --> industry) Zhaoyu Yang (post-doc --> Ohio State University) Tomi Ylinen (grad. student --> industry) Stephan Zimmer grad. student (grad. student --> Univ. Geneva)

Group picture November '16


From left to right: A. Ferella, K. Morå, M. Sánchez-Conde, R. Wagner, M. Meyer, B. Anderson, J. Conrad, B. Farmer, B. Bauermeister, J. Mahlstedt, B. Pelssers, missing: S. Algeri, J. Calvén, A. Chiappo, N. Håkansson


News

  • [2017-05-22] Suite of GAMBIT results published and code released (contact: Ben Farmer, Jan Conrad (see below)
  • [2017-05-18] First results of XENON1T published (contact: Knut, Jan). Link to paper: arxiv:1705.06655 [astro-ph.CO], Link to press release: in Swedish
  • [2017-01-04] Annual modulation with XENON-100 update submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. (contact: Bart, Alfredo, Jan) Link: arxiv:1701.00769 [astro-ph.CO]
  • [2016-12-19] Power Spectrum of diffuse gamma-ray emission with Fermi-LAT (contact: Miguel), Link to press release: in Swedish




    • Publications since 2014 written in the group (i.e. at least one corresponding author or short author list)

    1. Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to the Detection of a Dark Matter Signal in comparison to Direct Detection and Collider Experiments
      C. Balazs, J. Conrad, B. Farmer, T. Jacques, T. Li, M. Meyer, F. S. Queiroz, M. A. Sanchez-Conde
      submitted to Phys. Rev. D. arxiv:1706.01505 [astro-ph.HE]
    2. GAMBIT: The Global and Modular Beyond-the-Standard-Model Inference Tool
      P. Athron et al. [GAMBIT collab]
      submitted to Eur. Phys. Journal C. arxiv:1705.07908 [astro-ph.HE]
    3. Comparison of statistical sampling methods with ScannerBit, the GAMBIT scanning module
      G. D. Martinez, J. McKay, B. Farmer, P. Scott, E. Roebber, A. Putze, J. Conrad [GAMBIT collab]
      submitted to Eur. Phys. Journal C. arxiv:1705.07959 [astro-ph.HE]
    4. Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to the Detection of a Dark Matter Signal in comparison to Direct Detection and Collider Experiments
      J. Conrad, O. Reimer
      Nature Physics 12 (2017) no. 3. 224-231 arxiv:1705.11165 [astro-ph.HE]
    5. Effective field theory search for high-energy nuclear recoils using the XENON100 dark matter detector
      E. Aprile et al. [XENON collaboration]
      submitted to Phys. Rev. D. arxiv:1706.01505 [astro-ph.HE]
    6. CTA in the Context of Searches for Particle Dark Matter - a glimpse
      J. Conrad
      Invited contribtution. In: Procceedings of 6th International Symposium on High-Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy (Gamma 2016) arxiv:1609.02350 [astro-ph.HE]
    7. The Fermi Large Area Telescope as a Galactic Supernovae Axionscope
      M. Meyer, M. Giannotti, A. Mirizzi, J. Conrad, M. Sanchez-Conde
      accepted by Phys.Rev.Lett. arxiv:1609.02350 [astro-ph.HE]
    8. H.E.S.S. limits on line-like dark matter signatures in the 100 GeV to 2 TeV energy range close to the Galactic Centre
      H. Abdalla et al. [HESS]
      Phys.Rev.Lett. 117 (2016) no.15, 151302 arxiv:1609.08091 [astro-ph.HE]
    9. Dwarf spheroidal J-factors without priors: A likelihood-based analysis for indirect dark matter searches
      A. Chiappo, J. Cohen-Tanugi, J. Conrad, L. Strigari, M. Sanchez-Conde, B. Anderson
      accepted by MNRAS arxiv:1608.07111 [astro-ph.HE]
    10. Search for Spectral Irregularities due to Photon–Axionlike-Particle Oscillations with the Fermi Large Area Telescope
      M. Ajello et al. [Fermi-LAT]
      Phys.Rev.Lett. 116 (2016) no.16, 161101 arxiv:1603.06978 [astro-ph.HE]
    11. Characterization of subhalo structural properties and implications for dark matter annihilation signals
      A. Moline, M. Sanchez-Conde, S. Palomares-Ruiz, F. Prada
      submitted to MNRAS arxiv:1603.040057[astro-ph.HE]
    12. Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to the Detection of Intergalactic Magnetic Fields
      M. Meyer, J. Conrad, H. Dickinson
      Astrophys.J. 827 (2016) no.2, 147 arxiv:1603.03431 [astro-ph.HE]
    13. On methods for correcting the look-elsewhere effect in searches for new physics
      S. Algeri, J. Conrad, D. v. Dyk
      JINST 11 (2016) no. 12 P12010 arxiv:1602.00091 [astro-ph.HE]
    14. Constraints on Axions and Axionlike Particles from Fermi Large Area Telescope Observations of Neutron Stars
      B. Berenji, J. Gaskins, M. Meyer
      Phys. Rev. D93 (2016) 045019 arxiv:1602.00091 [astro-ph.HE]
    15. Dark Matter Searches with H.E.S.S.
      K. Mora [HESS]
      Proceedings of 27th Rencontres de Blois, 2015 arxiv:1512.00698 [astro-ph.HE]
    16. Search for Gamma-Ray Lines towards Galaxy Clusters with the Fermi-LAT
      B. Anderson, S. Zimmer, J. Conrad, M. Gustafsson, M. Sanchez-Conde, R. Caputo
      JCAP 1602 (2016) 02 026 arxiv:1511.00014 [astro-ph.HE]
    17. Search for gamma-ray emission from the Coma Cluster with six years of Fermi-LAT data
      M. Ackermann et al. [Fermi-LAT]
      Astrophys.J 819 (2016) 2 149 arxiv:1507.08995 [astro-ph.HE]
    18. Search for extended gamma-ray emission from the Virgo galaxy cluster with Fermi-LAT
      M. Ackermann et al. [Fermi-LAT]
      Astrophys.J. 812 (2015) 2, 159 arxiv:1510.00004 [astro-ph.HE]
    19. Search for Gamma-ray Line Signatures with H.E.S.S
      M. Kieffer, K. Mora, J. Conrad, C. Farnier, A, Jacholkowska, J. Veh, A. Viana [HESS]
      Proceedings of ICRC 2015 arxiv:1509.03514 [astro-ph.HE]
    20. Comparing non-nested models in the search for new physics
      S. Algeri, J. Conrad, D.A. van Dyk
      M.N.R.A.S Letters 458 (2016) no. 1, L84-L88 arxiv:1509.01010 [physics.data-an]
    21. Dark Matter Searches with the Fermi-LAT in the Direction of Dwarf Spheroidals
      M. Wood, B. Anderson, A. Drlica-Wagner, J. Cohen-Tanugi, J. Conrad [Fermi-LAT]
      Proceedings of ICRC 2015 arxiv:1507.03530 [astro-ph.HE]
    22. WIMP searches with gamma rays in the Fermi era: challenges, methods and results
      J. Conrad, J. Cohen-Tanugi, L. E. Strigari
      JETP Vol. 148 (12) (2015) arxiv:1503.06348 [astro-ph.HE]
    23. Searching for Dark Matter Annihilation from Milky Way Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies with 6 years of Fermi of Fermi-LAT data
      M. Ackermann et al. [Fermi-LAT]
      Phys. Rev. Lett. 115 (2015) 23, 231301 arxiv:1503.02641 [astro-ph.HE]
    24. Significance in Gamma ray astronomy with Systematic Errors
      G. Spengler
      Astropart.Phys. 67 (2015) 70-74 arxiv:1502.03249 [astro-ph.HE],
    25. Constraints on an Annihilation Signal from a Core of Constant Dark Matter Density around the Milky Way Center with H.E.S.S.
      A. Abramowski et al. [H.E.S.S.]
      Phys.Rev.Lett. 114 (2015) 8, 081301 arxiv:1502.03244 [astro-ph.HE],
    26. Using Likelihood for Combined Data Set Analysis
      B. Anderson et al. [Fermi-LAT]
      presented at Fermi Symposium, Nagoya, 2014 arxiv:1502.03081 [astro-ph.HE],
    27. Limits on Dark Matter Annihilation Signals from the Fermi LAT 4-year Measurement of the Isotropic Gamma-Ray Background
      M. Ackermann et al. [Fermi-LAT]
      JCAP 1509 (2015) 09, 008 arxiv:1501.05464 [astro-ph.HE],
    28. The nature of the Diffuse Gamma-Ray Background
      M. Fornasa, M.A.Sanchez-Conde
      Phys. Rept. 598 (2015) 1-58 arxiv:1502.02866 [astro-ph.HE]
    29. The Origin of the Extragalactic Gamma-Ray Background and Implications for Dark-Matter Annihilation>
      M. Ajello, D. Gasparrini, M. Sanchez-Conde et al.
      Astrophys.J. 800 (2015) 2, L27 arxiv:1501.05301 [astro-ph.HE],
    30. Modelling gamma-ray-axion-like particle oscillations in turbulent magnetic fields: relevance for observations with Cherenkov telescopes
      M. Meyer
      Contribution to 10th PATRAS workshop, CERN, 2014, arXiv:1412.2492 [hep-ph],
    31. Indirect Detection of WIMP Dark Matter: a compact review
      J. Conrad
      Invited contribution, IPAP 2014, University College London, 2014 , arXiv:1411.1925 [hep-ph],
    32. Search for dark matter annihiliation signatures in H.E.S.S. observations of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies
      A. Abramowski et. al [H.E.S.S.]
      Phys.Rev. D90 (2014) 11, 112012, arXiv:1410.2589 [astro-ph],
    33. Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to the detection of axion-like particles at high gamma-ray opacities
      M. Meyer, J. Conrad
      JCAP12(2014)016, arXiv:1410.1556 [astro-ph],
    34. Statistical Issues in Astrophysical Searches for Particle Dark Matter
      J. Conrad
      Invited review, Astroparticle Physics 62 (2014) 165-177 , arXiv:1407.6617 [astro-ph],
    35. On detecting oscillations of gamma rays into axion-like particle in turbulent and coherent magnetic fields
      M. Meyer, D. Montanino, J. Conrad
      JCAP 1409 (2014) 003, arXiv:1406.5972 [astro-ph],
    36. The sensitivity of Cherenkov telescopes to dark matter and astrophysical anisotropies in the diffuse gamma-ray background
      J. Ripken, A. Cuoco, H.-S. Zechlin, J. Conrad, D. Horns
      JCAP 1401 (2014) 01, arXiv:1211.6922 [astro-ph],
    37. Dark Matter Constraints from Observations of 25 Milky Way Satellite Galaxies with the Fermi Large Area Telescope
      M. Ackermann et. al [Fermi-LAT]
      Phys. Rev. D89 (2014) 042001, arXiv:1308.0828 [astro-ph], PHYSICS Synopsis
    38. A Robust Determination of Milky Way Satellite Properties using Hierarchical Mass Modelling
      G. Martinez
      Month.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc 451 (2015) 3, 2523-2535, arXiv:1310.2641 [astro-ph],
    39. Search for cosmic-ray induced gamma-ray emission in Galaxy Clusters
      M. Ackermann et. al [Fermi-LAT]
      Astrophys.J. 787 (2014) 18, arXiv:1308.5654 [astro-ph],

    Publications since 2015 with direct signficant contribution

    1. First Dark Matter Search Results from the XENON1T Experiment
      E. Aprile et al. [XENON] s
      submitted to Phys. Rev. Letters arxiv:1705.06655 [astro-ph.HE]
    2. Search for Electronic Recoil Event Rate Modulation with 4 Years of XENON100 Data
      E. Aprile et al. [XENON] s
      Phys. Rev. Letters 118 (2017) no. 10. 101101 arxiv:1701.00769 [astro-ph.HE]
    3. XENON100 Dark Matter Results from a Combination of 477 Live Days
      E. Aprile et al. [XENON], including Calven, Conrad, Ferella, Pelssers
      Phys. Rev. D.94 (2016) no.12, 122001 arxiv:1605.06154 [astro-ph.HE]
    4. Sensitivity Projections for Dark Matter Searches with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope
      E. Charles et al. (incl. Anderson, Meyer, Sanchez-Conde, Zimmer)
      Phys. Rept. 636 (2016) 1-46 arxiv:1605.02016 [astro-ph.HE]
    5. 3FGL Demographics Outside the Galactic Plane using Supervised Machine Learning: Pulsar and Dark MAtter Subhalo Interpretations
      N. Mirabal eet al. (incl. Sanchez-Conde)
      Astrophys.J. 825 (2016) no.1, 69 arxiv:1605.00711 [astro-ph.HE]
    6. The angular power spectrum of the diffuse gamma-ray emission as measured by the Fermi Large Area Telescope and constraints on its Dark Matter interpretation
      M. Fornasa et al. (incl. Sanchez-Conde)
      submitted to Phys. Rev. D. arxiv:1601.06590 [astro-ph.HE]
    7. Limits to dark matter annihilation cross-section from a combined analysis of MAGIC and Fermi-LAT observations of dwarf satellite galaxies
      M.Ahnen et al (incl. Anderson, Sanchez-Conde)
      accepted by ApJ arxiv:1601.06590 [astro-ph.HE]
    8. Physics reach of the XENON1T dark matter experiment
      E. Aprile et al [XENON] (including Conrad, Pelssers, Ferella)
      submitted to JCAP arxiv:1512.07501 [astro-ph.HE]
    9. A. Drlica-Wagner at al [Fermi-LAT, DES], incl. Anderson, Sanchez-Conde
      M.Ahnen et al (incl. Anderson, Sanchez-Conde)
      Astrophys.J. 809 (2015) 1, L4 arxiv:1503.02632 [astro-ph.HE]
      10. Last update: October, 2016