Astrophysical Probes of New Models of Dark Matter
Abstract
One of the most pressing and relevant cosmological questions is on the nature of the dark matter. I propose a comprehensive program at the boundary of astrophysics and cosmology with particle physics, focused on the question on the nature of the Dark Matter (DM). Research at the boundary of the two fields is critically important as a plethora of experiments in both particle physics and astrophysics, such as direct and indirect detection of Dark Matter (DM) by the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope (FGST), AMS-02, and Cosmic Microwave Background probes such as Planck, come online. At the same time, data from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will probe fundamental questions about Electroweak Symmetry Breaking and its implications for astrophysics and cosmology, as concerns especially the nature of the DM and the generation of the baryon asymmetry. Physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) is required to explain the astrophysical observation that DM dominates over ordinary matter by a ratio 5:1, as we learned through WMAP, as well as large scale structure surveys. Despite lacking an understanding of the properties of the DM, its presence is crucial for the formation of structure in the universe. Particle physics provides a framework for understanding what the DM could be. This proposal centers on building new models of DM, as well as studying their signatures both in the galaxy and on earth. While particle physics has provided a few popular candidates for DM (such as the supersymmetric neutralino), whose signatures have been extensively studied in the literature, it is important to consider other theoretically motivated candidates which provide distinct signatures. This proposal focuses on such new models of DM, especially models of DM from hidden sectors. For example, recently, the PAMELA experiment has observed a rise in the ratio of positron to electron flux at high energies. The flux may likely come from astrophysical objects nearby, such as pulsars. An intriguing possibility, however, is that the flux is generated by dark matter annihilation in the galaxy. This possibility is currently being tested by FGST and will soon be investigated thoroughly by AMS-02. The type of DM candidate which generates such a signal must be non-standard, so that such signals direct our investigations toward considering new classes of DM candidates. And regardless of the source of the PAMELA anomaly, the result of these studies is fruitful progress in the understanding of signals of new DM candidates, which can be uncovered with galactic probes. This is a time for potentially great progress in the area of DM detection through galactic probes. As the data from NASA missions arrives, this proposal aims to contribute to untangling the DM mystery.
- Publication:
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NASA ATP Proposal
- Pub Date:
- 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010atp..prop...38Z