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Constraints on the injection energy of positrons in the Galactic centre region

Patrick Sizun·Michel Cassé·Stéphane Schanne·Bertrand Cordier
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Abstract

Recent observations of the 511 keV positron-electron annihilation line in the Galactic centre region by the INTEGRAL/SPI spectrometer have stirred up new speculations about the origin of the large corresponding positron injection rate. Beyond astrophysical candidates, new mechanisms have been put forward. We focus on the annihilation of light dark matter particles and review the various gamma-ray radiation components related to such a source of mono-energetic positrons in addition to the 511 keV line itself. We study the influence of the degree of ionisation of the bulge on this radiation, and its possible effects on the observational constraints on the mass of the hypothetical light dark matter particle or the injection energy of a mono-energetic source of positrons in general.

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Patrick Sizun, Michel Cassé, Stéphane Schanne, Bertrand Cordier. 2007-02-02. Constraints on the injection energy of positrons in the Galactic centre region. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0702061

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