1 Introduction

Experimental Searches for Dark Matter

Timothy J. Sumner
Astrophysics Group, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College
Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BZ
e-mail: t.sumner@ic.ac.uk
http://astro.ic.ac.uk

(Accepted 16 April 2002)

Abstract:

There is now an enormously rich variety of experimental techniques being brought to bear on experimental searches for dark matter, covering a wide range of suggested forms for it. The existence of ``dark matter'', in some form or other, is inferred from a number of relatively simple observations and the problem has been known for over half a century. To explain ``dark matter'' is one of the foremost challenges today - the answer will be of fundamental importance to cosmologists, astrophysicists, particle physicists, and general relativists. In this article, I will give a brief review of the observational evidence (concentrating on areas of current significant activity), followed by anequally brief summary of candidate solutions for the `dark matter'. I will then discuss experimental searches, both direct and indirect. Finally, I will offer prospects for the future.



1 Introduction

image Experimental Searches for Dark Matter
Timothy J. Sumner
http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2002-4
© Max-Planck-Gesellschaft. ISSN 1433-8351
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