Decaying Vector Dark Matter as an Explanation for the 3.5 keV Line from Galaxy Clusters

Understand

We present a Vector Dark Matter (VDM) model that explains the 3.5 keV line recently observed in the XMM-Newton observatory data from galaxy clusters.

• In this model, dark matter is composed of two vector bosons, $V$ and $V^\prime$, which couple to the photon through an effective generalized Chern-Simons coupling, $g_V$.
• $V^\prime$ is slightly heavier than $V$ with a mass splitting $m_{V^\prime}-m_V\simeq 3.5$~keV.
• The decay of $V^\prime$ to $V$ and a photon gives rise to the 3.5~keV line.