Gamma-ray bounds from EAS detectors and heavy decaying dark matter constraints

Abstract

The very high energy Galactic $\gamma$-ray sky is partially opaque in the ($0.1-10$) PeV energy range. In the light of the recently detected high energy neutrino flux by IceCube, a comparable very high energy $\gamma$-ray flux is expected in any scenario with a sizable Galactic contribution to the neutrino flux. Here we elaborate on the peculiar energy and anisotropy features imposed upon these very high energy $\gamma$-rays by the absorption on the cosmic microwave background photons and Galactic interstellar light. As a notable application of our considerations, we study the prospects of probing the PeV-scale decaying DM scenario, proposed as a possible source of IceCube neutrinos, by extensive air shower (EAS) cosmic ray experiments. In particular, we show that anisotropy measurements at EAS experiments are already sensitive to ${\tau }_{\mathrm{DM}}\sim \mathcal{O}(10^{27})$~s and future measurements, using better gamma/hadron separation, can improve the limit significantly.

Comments: 23 pages, 9 figures; v2: the discussion of anisotropy in section 4 improved, matches the version published at JCAP