The enigma of dark matter in the universe

• Grant number: 19/11636-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Principal Investigator: Ivone Freire da Mota e Albuquerque
• Grantee: Beatriz Sayuri Duval Hashimoto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In this project we will investigate the problem of dark matter in the Universe. This is one of the contemporary puzzles of physics. Cosmological and astrophysical observations determine that only 4.4% of the Universe is made up of known matter. Of the remainder, 22.6% is made up of dark matter and 73% is called dark energy. The composition of dark matter is an enigma currently investigated in theoretical and experimental fields. Independent observations, such as the rotation of galaxies or the effects of gravitational lenses, indicate the presence of the same amount of dark matter.We will investigate the astrophysical observations that determine the dark matter problem, its interpretations and the results of current experiments such as DarkSide, XENON, LUX, Panda-X and IceCube. Then, we will focus our studies on the detailed investigation of the DarkSide experiment, in which we participate, and more specifically, the detection of WIMPs with masses lower than 10 GeV / c2