A Suzaku search for dark matter emission lines in the X-ray brightest galaxy clusters

We present the results of a search for unidentified emission lines in deep Suzaku X-ray spectra of the central regions of theX-ray brightest galaxy clusters: Perseus, Coma, Virgo and Ophiuchus. We analyse an optimized energy range (3.2-5.3 keV) that is relatively free of instrumental features, and a plasma emission model incorporating the abundances of elements with the strongest expected emission lines at these energies (S, Ar, Ca) as free parameters. For the Perseus Cluster core, employing this model, we find evidence for an additional emission feature at an energy E = 3.51(-0.01)(+0.02) keV with a flux of 2.87(-0.38)(+0.33) x 10(-7) photons s(-1) cm(-2) arcmin(-2). At slightly larger radii, we detect an emission line at 3.59 +/- 0.02 keV with a flux of 4.8(-1.4)(+1.7) x 10(-8) photons s(-1) cm(-2) arcmin(-2). The properties of these features are broadly consistent with previous claims, although the radial variation of the line strength appears in tension with dark matter (DM) decay model predictions. Assuming a decaying DM origin for these features allows us to predict the energies and detected line fluxes for the other clusters. We do not detect an emission feature at the predicted energy and line flux in the Coma, Virgo and Ophiuchus clusters. The formal 99.5 per cent upper limits on the line strengths in each cluster are well below the decaying DM model predictions, disfavouring a decaying DM interpretation. The results of further analysis suggest that systematic effects associated with modelling the spectra for the Perseus Cluster, details of the assumed ionization balance and errors in the predicted spectral line emissivities may be largely responsible for the similar to 3.55 keV feature.