HESS observations of the Galactic Center Region and their possible dark matter interpretation

Abstract

The detection of γ rays from the source HESS J1745-290 in the Galactic Center (GC) region with the High Energy Spectroscopic System (HESS) array of Cherenkov telescopes in 2004 is presented. After subtraction of the diffuse γ-ray emission from the GC ridge, the source is compatible with a point source with spatial extent less than 1.2′(stat) (95% C.L.). The measured energy spectrum above 160 GeV is compatible with a power law with photon index of 2.25±0.04(stat)±0.10(syst) and no significant flux variation is detected. It is finally found that the bulk of the very high energy emission must have non-dark-matter origin.