Search for Dark Matter at the LHC

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Carsten Hensel
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: from 2007 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 48738435

One of the most fascinating findings of astrophysics concerns the composition of the universe. Only ~ 4% of the total energy density can be accounted for by "ordinary" matter. Many observations indicate that a much larger fraction is made up by Dark Matter. We know today that the universe' current energy density is comprised by about 22% of Dark Matter and 74% of Dark Energy.So far we are not able to explain the nature of Dark Matter. However, it has been pointed out for some time that supersymmetric extensions to the Standard Model of particle physics could offer a very elegant answer to the question for the nature and origin of Dark Matter. It is therefore of significant importance to experimentally search for Supersymmetry. Not only would we be able to extend the Standard Model towards a more fundamental theory and thus help to improve our understanding of our world on the smallest scales, the discovery and study of Supersymmetry will be of major interest for astroparticle physics and cosmology. Experiments like the ATLAS at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN offer a unique opportunity to carry out a wide variety of thorough searches for Supersymmetry and Dark Matter.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups