SEMINAR

The dark matter problem - neutralino dark matter in the NMSSM

Dr. Ana Teixeira

(Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)

Sala P7, IST, Edifício Pós-Graduação
Tuesday, October 12th, 2004 at 04:00 PM

Abstract

We briefly review the problem of dark matter in the Universe, presenting particle candidates for its composition, and strategies for its detection. Of the many candidates, the most promising one is the neutralino, the lightest superpartner in many supersymmetric theories. After introducing the minimal supersymmetric standard model, and discussing the direct detection of neutralino dark matter in this framework, we consider the next to minimal supersymmetric standard model. We conduct a detailed analysis of the NMSSM parameter space, taking into account all the available constraints. Finally, we compute the neutralino-nucleon cross section, finding that sizable values, within the reach of dark matter detectors, are attainable in this framework.