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NPAC (Nuclear/Particle/Astro/Cosmo) Forum
Joint with High Energy
Cosmic Rays and the Quest for New Physics
Date: Monday, April 26th
Time: 4:00 pm
Place: 4274 Chamberlin
Speaker: Stefano Profumo, U.C. Santa Cruz
Abstract: Recent cosmic ray data, notably from the Pamela and Fermi satellites, indicate that previously unaccounted-for powerful sources in the Galaxy inject high-energy electrons and positrons. Interestingly, this new source class might be related to new fundamental particle physics, and specifically to pair-annihilation or decay of galactic dark matter. I will
discuss how this exciting scenario is constrained by Fermi gamma-ray observations, and which astrophysical source counterparts could also be responsible for the high-energy electron-positron excess. In particular, I will review the case for nearby mature pulsars, and the impact of newly
discovered radio-quiet pulsars that pulsate in gamma rays. While
high-energy electron-positron measurements sample local (closer than 1 kpc) cosmic rays, diffuse radio and gamma-ray emission informs us about the global galactic cosmic ray population. I will thus offer a few thoughts on recent claims involving the detection of diffuse radio ("WMAP haze") and gamma-ray ("Fermi haze") emissions and on implications for the quest for New Physics
Host: Michael Ramsey-Musolf
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