Extracting limits on Dark Matter annihilation from gamma-ray observations towards dwarf spheroidal galaxies

Understand

Dwarf spheroidal galaxies compose one of the most dark matter dominated classes of objects, making them a set of targets to search for signals of dark matter annihilation.

• Recent developments in gamma-ray astronomy, most importantly the launch of the Fermi-LAT instrument, have brought those targets into attention.
• Yet, no clear excess of gamma-rays has been confirmed from these targets, resulting in some of the tightest limits on dark matter annihilation from indirect searches.
• In extracting limits from dwarf spheroidal galaxies, it is of great importance, to properly take into account all relevant uncertainties.