Speaker
Description
In this work, we propose a novel indirect detection signature of dark matter (DM) associated with the exceptionally bright gamma-ray burst GRB 221009A. Within our scenario, singlet scalar DM particles, produced at the redshift of the GRB, are up-scattered by high-energy cosmic rays (HECRs) during their journey to Earth. These highly boosted DM particles subsequently decay dominantly into high-energy photons before reaching terrestrial detectors. The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO), which is sensitive to ultra-energetic gamma-ray events, has recorded an 18 TeV photon event corresponding to GRB 221009A. We argue that this observation could be explained by the di-photon decay of boosted singlet scalar DM, thereby providing a unique window into the dark sector.
