| Proposal ID | 065281 |
| Title | Solving the Mystery of Dark Matter with XMM-Newton |
| Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0652810101 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-cm07j5a |
| Principal Investigator, PI | Dr Michael Loewenstein |
| Abstract | The sterile neutrino is a dark matter candidate that emits an X-ray throughradiative decay. We initiated the first dedicated X-ray search for dark matter,deriving new constraints on sterile neutrinos from Suzaku data on the Ursa Minordwarf spheroidal galaxy, and a marginal detection of a sterile neutrino line at2.5 keV in the extreme dark matter dwarf spheroidal Willman 1. This tentativedetection can only be tested with XMM-Newton EPIC. We propose 75-100 ksecobservations (including offset pointings) of Willman 1, as well as Segue 1 andUrsa Major II. Confirmation by XMM-Newton would be of incomparable astrophysicalimportance, pointing the way to new physics, and implying that future X-rayspectroscopic missions will directly map the dark distribution and its evolution. |
| Publications |
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| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2010-10-22T02:02:05Z/2010-11-01T09:35:04Z |
| Version | 17.56_20190403_1200 |
| Mission Description | The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis. |
| Creator Contact | https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk |
| Date Published | 2011-12-23T00:00:00Z |
| Last Update | 2025-01-27 |
| Keywords | "sterile neutrino line", "xmm newton", "incomparable astrophysical importance", "dark distribution", "suzaku data", "radiative decay", "sterile neutrinos", "dark matter", "tentative detection", "dark matter candidate", "ursa major ii", "EPIC", "xmm newton epic", "dedicated xray search", "XMM-Newton", "offset pointings", "marginal detection", "sterile neutrino", "XMM" |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Michael Loewenstein, 2011, 'Solving the Mystery of Dark Matter with XMM-Newton', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-cm07j5a |