Speaker
Description
One of the fundamental unanswered questions about the universe is the nature of Dark Matter (DM) — a mysterious, invisible form of matter that accounts for 80% of the universe’s total matter budget. Despite its overwhelming abundance in the Universe, the microphysical properties of DM remain poorly constrained owing to its extremely weak interactions with normal matter. This has resulted in a sprawling DM theory space with several models, potential observable signatures and search
strategies.
In this talk, I will provide a particle physics perspective on approaching the DM question and discuss the many ways it intersects with astrophysics and cosmology. I will demonstrate how to use the universe as a DM laboratory, with an emphasis on using different energy scales and ambient environments as a test bed for DM physics. Through the course of the talk, I will trace out the possible histories of DM, discuss its impact on astrophysical observables, and make contact with the expansive terrestrial DM experimental program.