CMB data constraint on self-annihilation of dark matter particles

Understand

Recently, self-annihilation of dark matter particles is proposed to explain the "WMAP Haze" and excess of energetic positrons and electrons in ATIC and PAMELA results.

• If self-annihilation of dark matter occurs around the recombination of cosmic plasma, energy release from self-annihilation of dark matter delays the recombination, and hence affects CMB anisotropy.
• By using the recent CMB data, we have investigated the self-annihilation of dark matter particles.
• In this investigation, we do not find statistically significant evidence, and impose an upper bound on <sigma v> / m_chi.