First implications of Tibet AS$_γ$ data for heavy dark matter

Abstract

Extensive air shower detectors of gamma rays in the sub-PeV energy region provide a new and relatively unexplored window for dark matter searches. Here we derive some implications of the recently published Tibet AS$_γ$ data for decaying dark matter candidates. The available spectral information is already useful in obtaining competitive constraints, surpassing existing limits above 10 PeV mass for hadronic or massive boson final states. This is particularly true if accounting for a benchmark astrophysical background of Galactic cosmic rays in the (0.1-1) PeV range. By relying on the arrival distribution of the photons, we show that significantly better sensitivity can be attained, comparable or better than IceCube also for most leptonic final states. Full data exploitation requires however further information disclosure.