Theoretical Aspects of Dark Matter Detection

Abstract

Direct and indirect dark matter detection relies on the scattering of the dark matter candidate on nucleons or nuclei. Here, attention is focused on dark matter candidates (neutralinos) predicted in the minimal supersymmetric standard model and its constrained version with universal input soft supersymmetry-breaking masses. Current expectations for elastic scattering cross sections for neutralinos on protons are discussed with particular attention to satisfying all current accelerator constraints as well as insuring a sufficient cosmological relic density to account for the dark matter in the Universe.

12 pages, latex, 12 ps figures, summary of talk at ISSI Workshop "Matter in the Universe" (Bern, March 19-23, 2001)