Focus on Dark Matter and Particle Physics

Abstract

The quest for the nature of dark matter has reached a historical point in time, with several different and complementary experiments on the verge of conclusively exploring large portions of the parameter space of the most theoretically compelling particle dark matter models. This focus issue on dark matter and particle physics brings together a broad selection of invited articles from the leading experimental and theoretical groups in the field. The leitmotif of the collection is the need for a multi-faceted search strategy that includes complementary experimental and theoretical techniques with the common goal of a sound understanding of the fundamental particle physical nature of dark matter. These include theoretical modelling, high-energy colliders and direct and indirect searches. We are confident that the works collected here present the state of the art of this rapidly changing field and will be of interest to both experts in the topic of dark matter as well as to those new to this exciting field.Focus on Dark Matter and Particle Physics ContentsDARK MATTER AND ASTROPHYSICSScintillator-based detectors for dark matter searches I S K Kim, H J Kim and Y D KimCosmology: small-scale issues Joel R PrimackBig Bang nucleosynthesis and particle dark matter Karsten Jedamzik and Maxim PospelovParticle models and the small-scale structure of dark matter Torsten BringmannDARK MATTER AND COLLIDERSDark matter in the MSSM R C Cotta, J S Gainer, J L Hewett and T G RizzoThe role of an e+e- linear collider in the study of cosmic dark matter M BattagliaCollider, direct and indirect detection of supersymmetric dark matter Howard Baer, Eun-Kyung Park and Xerxes TataINDIRECT PARTICLE DARK MATTER SEARCHES:EXPERIMENTSPAMELA and indirect dark matter searches M Boezio et alAn indirect search for dark matter using antideuterons: the GAPS experiment C J HaileyPerspectives for indirect dark matter search with AMS-2 using cosmic-ray electrons and positrons B Beischer, P von Doetinchem, H Gast, T Kirn and S SchaelAxion searches with helioscopes and astrophysical signatures for axion(-like) particles K Zioutas, M Tsagri, Y Semertzidis, T Papaevangelou, T Dafni and V AnastassopoulosThe indirect search for dark matter with IceCube Francis Halzen and Dan HooperDIRECT DARK MATTER SEARCHES:EXPERIMENTSGaseous dark matter detectors G Sciolla and C J MartoffSearch for dark matter with CRESST Rafael F Lang and Wolfgang SeidelDIRECT AND INDIRECT PARTICLE DARK MATTER SEARCHES:THEORYDark matter annihilation around intermediate mass black holes: an update Gianfranco Bertone, Mattia Fornasa, Marco Taoso and Andrew R ZentnerUpdate on the direct detection of dark matter in MSSM models with non-universal Higgs masses John Ellis, Keith A Olive and Pearl SandickDark stars: a new study of the first stars in the Universe Katherine Freese, Peter Bodenheimer, Paolo Gondolo and Douglas SpolyarDetermining the mass of dark matter particles with direct detection experiments Chung-Lin ShanThe detection of subsolar mass dark matter halos Savvas M KoushiappasNeutrino coherent scattering rates at direct dark matter detectors Louis E StrigariGamma rays from dark matter annihilation in the central region of the Galaxy Pasquale Dario Serpico and Dan HooperDARK MATTER MODELSThe dark matter interpretation of the 511 keV line Céline BoehmAxions as dark matter particles Leanne D Duffy and Karl van BibberSterile neutrinos Alexander KusenkoDark matter candidates Lars BergströmMinimal dark matter: model and results Marco Cirelli and Alessandro StrumiaShedding light on the dark sector with direct WIMP production Partha Konar, Kyoungchul Kong, Konstantin T Matchev and Maxim PerelsteinAxinos as dark matter particles Laura Covi and Jihn E Kim