Dark Matter
You’re not dark matter? Okay next, neither are you? next please…
General Advice
Dark Matter (DM) is like the elusive character in the cosmic drama—we’re pretty sure it exists, know roughly where it hangs out, and have a good idea of how much is out there. Then what’s the problem? We’re scratching our heads about what it actually is. Most scientists bet on DM being made up of particles, and for a couple of decades, the popular kid on the block was the Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP). It was a hopeful lead, or some would say, a bit of a bias.
Dark matter research is one of the hottest fields out there, on all fronts, theoretical, experimental and computational side. What makes it even more attractive is the super interdisciplinary nature of this research. As a theorist you will be dabbling into core QFT, particle physics, cosmology, astrophysics, plasma physics - you name it. As an experimentalist, you might be working with telescopes, colliders, solid state detectors or even tabletop laser setups. Dark matter research doesn’t just make you a specialist; it turns you into a well-seasoned, all-around physicist. It’s the kind of field that keeps you on your toes and immersed in the thrilling diversity of physics.
I’ll be honest, there aren’t as many books on DM physics as I would like to be out there. I will put a few references down there, but the primary resources I would reccommend for a newcomer to the dark side are mostly lecture notes.
The prereqisites in order to understand every single thing that is happening in these lecture notes might be a bit overwhelming due to what has been said in the pink box above.
REFERENCES
TASI lectures on dark matter models and direct detection by Tongyan Lin
Introductory Ideal for Beginners State-of-the-art
Links : Youtube Playlist, Lecture notes
These lectures are notable for their exceptional clarity and are more recent compared to the alternatives mentioned below. They comprehensively cover all the requisite tools for engaging in the field. An added advantage is the availability of accompanying video lectures, providing an immersive learning experience.
🌟 PSI Dark Matter by David Morrissey
Introductory Ideal for Beginners
Links: Course Webpage , Video Lectures
These lecture notes trace back to 2013, carrying a subtle WIMP bias (more of a field-wide trend at the time than the author’s individual stance). But fear not, this bias doesn’t overshadow the brilliance of these notes (bonus: the author’s video lectures at the Perimeter Institute are top-notch). The author takes a scenic route to ensure you grasp the crucial concepts behind dark matter freeze-out, various models, non-thermal production, and the intricacies of direct and indirect detection – essential tools for any dark matter project.
But wait, there’s more! Dive into captivating topics like Dark Matter capture in Stars (a personal research area of mine – cheers!), Axions (my Master’s thesis was all about wrangling in axions a bit more), and Collider searches. The author even spices things up with some cool assignments to solidify your understanding. So, don’t hesitate, dive in, and let these notes be your guide to unraveling the mysteries of the dark side! 🌌📝
Comment : Some of the videos on PIRSA are not playing due to various errors, try using some plugin that grabs the video and downloads it. The lectures are in 480p or 720p at max, so the quality isn’t the best but definitely watchable.
⭐ Lecture notes on DM physics by Mariangela Lisanti
Introductory Ideal for Beginners
Link: Lecture notes
These forty-page lecture notes could be your ticket to step into the chaotic yet mesmerizing realm of Dark Matter. Everything you find in Morrissey’s notes? Yep, it’s all right here too. The author introduces and explains each topic in an impressively clear manner. Plus, those small in-text exercises? Consider them your little nuggets of wisdom – they’re genuinely rewarding. In a nutshell, these forty pages basically lay the foundations for Dark Matter physics as we know it today. Ready to dive in? 🚀📚
⭐ Yet another introduction to Dark Matter Physics by Martin Bauer and Tilman Plehn
Intermediate State-of-the-art
Links : Lecture notes
In these comprehensive notes, the exploration of a diverse range of dark matter models is nothing short of exhaustive, with each concept meticulously derived for a thorough understanding. Serving as an excellent reference, particularly for those already acquainted with the topic, these notes offer an in-depth journey into the intricacies of dark matter. Admittedly, initiating your journey might be a tad overwhelming, yet as you persist, a discernible theme begins to emerge, turning what initially appears as complexity into a pathway of clarity and insight. 🌌📝
MISC
Dark Matter course webpage at Aachen by Felix Karlhoefer
Prerequisites : Minimal, Link: Course webpage
Really nice problem sets. (Notes seem really nice too, handwritten though, mostly outline/summary of what was taught in class) Link to course webpage
