Blazar constraints on neutrino-dark matter scattering

Abstract

Neutrino emission in coincidence with gamma rays has been observed from the blazar TXS 0506+056 by the IceCube telescope. Neutrinos from the blazar had to pass through a dense spike of dark matter (DM) surrounding the central black hole. The observation of such a neutrino implies new upper bounds on the neutrino-DM scattering cross section as a function of DM mass. The constraint is stronger than existing ones for a range of DM masses, if the cross section rises linearly with energy. For constant cross sections, competitive bounds are also possible, depending on details of the DM spike.

Comments: 8 pages, 4 figures; v2: more detailed analysis accounting for neutrino oscillations, neutrino emission region, different choices of initial spectrum, additional constraints on Z' model. Modified figs. 1, 2 and 4 accordingly, and improved version with clarifications