MULTI-GEV PHOTONS FROM ELECTRON-DARK-MATTER SCATTERING NEAR ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) may emit highly collimated and intense je ts of relativistic electrons which upscatter ambient photons. These el ectrons can also scatter off the cold dark matter halo of the galaxy t o produce high energy photons which have a more isotropic signature th an the upscattered photons from QED processes. We propose to look for these high energy photons coming from AGN as a method to detect dark m atter. As a primary example we work out the expected signal from elect rons scattering off the lightest supersymmetric partner into a photon plus selectron. Using the optimistic side of astrophysical uncertainti es, we still find the signal from M87 or Centaurus A, two close-by AGN , smaller than the sensitivities expected of the currently proposed ph oton detectors. However, long running photon detectors and future dete ctors of higher sensitivity might be able to distinguish a signal from AGN sources. In order to have confidence that new physics sources are discernible, we also emphasize the importance of multiwavelength stud ies of AGN with varying jet axis orientation to the Earth.