The Universe as a Dark Matter Laboratory

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.