What do the results from the IceCube Neutrino Detector teach us about Dark Matter?

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Science
Degree name
Postgraduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies
Publisher
University of Canterbury
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
English
Date
2017
Authors
Grayson, Stuart
Abstract

Cosmological measurements have revealed that matter familiar to us makes up only approximately 5% of the energy density of our universe. The remainder has been labelled Dark Matter (about 26%) and Dark Energy (the rest). This paper summarises how the IceCube Neutrino Observatory situated at the South Pole is being used to search for direct evidence of Dark Matter. Supersymmetry (SUSY) models are regarded as the most promising extensions of the Standard Model, and the paper describes the tests of SUSY predictions for the annihilation of Dark Matter in the core of the sun. The lack of an observable signal is used to constrain the set of values for free parameters within the SUSY model. IceCube's results complement those from other experiments which use different detectors for Dark Matter interactions, and together are placing meaningful constraints upon the most promising SUSY models.

Description
Citation
Keywords
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
All Rights Reserved