Laboratory limits on the annihilation or decay of dark matter particles

Abstract

Constraints on the indirect detection of dark matter are usually obtained from observations of astrophysical objects -- the Galactic Center, dwarf galaxies, M31, etc. Here we propose instead to look for the annihilation or decay of dark matter particles taking place inside detectors searching \emph{directly} for dark matter or in large neutrino experiments. We show that the data from XENON1T and Borexino set limits on the annihilation and decay rate of dark matter particles with masses in the keV to few MeV range. All relevant final states are considered: annihilation into $\gamma\gamma$ and $e^-e^+$, and decays into $\gamma\gamma$, $\gamma\nu$ and $e^-e^+$. The expected sensitivities in XENONnT, DARWIN, JUNO and THEIA are also computed. Though weaker than current astrophysical bounds, the laboratory limits (and projections) obtained are free from the usual astrophysical uncertainties associated with $J$-factors and unknown backgrounds, and may thus offer a complementary probe of the dark matter properties. We point out that current and future (astro)particle physics detectors might also be used to set analogous limits for different decays and dark matter masses above a few MeV.