Detecting sterile dark matter in space

Abstract

Space-based instruments provide new and, in some cases, unique opportunities to search for dark matter. In particular, if dark matter comprises sterile neutrinos, the x ray detection of their decay line is the most promising strategy for discovery. Sterile neutrinos with masses in the keV range could solve several long-standing astrophysical puzzles, from supernova asymmetries and the pulsar kicks to star formation, reionization, and baryogenesis. The best current limits on sterile neutrinos come from Chandra and XMM-Newton. Future advances can be achieved with a high-resolution x-ray spectrometry in space.