Searches for Particle Dark Matter : Dark stars, dark galaxies, dark halos and global supersymmetric fits

• The identity of dark matter is one of the key outstanding problems in both particle and astrophysics. In this thesis, I describe a number of complementary searches for particle dark matter. I discuss how the impact of dark matter on stars can constrain its interaction with nuclei, focussing on main sequence stars close to the Galactic Centre, and on the first stars as seen through the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope. The mass and annihilation cross-section of dark matter particles can be probed with searches for gamma rays produced in astronomical targets. Dwarf galaxies and ultracompact, primordially-produced dark matter minihalos turn out to be especially promising in this respect. I illustrate how the results of these searches can be combined with constraints from accelerators and cosmology to produce a single global fit to all available data. Global fits in supersymmetry turn out to be quite technically demanding, even with the simplest predictive models and the addition of complementary data from a bevy of astronomical and terrestrial experiments; I show how genetic algorithms can help in overcoming these challenges.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Subatomär fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Subatomic Physics (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

dark matter

supersymmetry

gamma rays

dwarf galaxies

stellar evolution

cosmological perturbations

phase transitions

statistical techniques

Astroparticle physics

Astropartikelfysik

Astroparticle physics

Astropartikelfysik

Cosmology

Kosmologi

Elementary particle physics

Elementarpartikelfysik

Computational physics

Beräkningsfysik

Formation and development of stars

Stjärnors bildning och utveckling

High energy astrophysics

Högenergiastrofysik

teoretisk fysik

Theoretical Physics

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

dok (subject category)