First Search for Dark Matter Annihilation in the Sun Using the ANTARES Neutrino Telescope

Understand

A search for high-energy neutrinos coming from the direction of the Sun has been performed using the data recorded by the ANTARES neutrino telescope during 2007 and 2008.

• The neutrino selection criteria have been chosen to maximize the selection of possible signals produced by the self-annihilation of weakly interacting massive particles accumulated in the centre of the Sun with respect to the atmospheric background.
• After data unblinding, the number of neutrinos observed towards the Sun was found to be compatible with background expectations.
• The $90\%$ CL upper limits in terms of spin-dependent and spin-independent WIMP-proton cross-sections are derived and compared to predictions of two supersymmetric models, CMSSM and MSSM-7.