Models of Supersymmetry for Dark Matter

A brief review of supersymmetric models and their candidates for dark matter is carried out. The neutralino is a WIMP candidate in the MSSM where $R$-parity is conserved, but this model has the $\mu$ problem. There are natural solutions to this problem that necessarily introduce new structure beyond the MSSM, including new candidates for dark matter. In particular, in an extension of the NMSSM, the right-handed sneutrino can be used for this job. In $R$-parity violating models such as the $\mu\nu$SSM, the gravitino can be the dark matter, and could be detected by its decay products in gamma-ray experiments.Comment: Proceedings of RICAP 2016, 6 pages, 1 figur

Theoretical Predictions for the Direct Detection of Supersymmetric Dark Matter

We compute the neutralino-nucleon cross section in several supersymmetric scenarios, taking into account all kind of experimental and astrophysical constraints. In addition, the constraints that the absence of dangerous charge and colour breaking minima imposes on the parameter space are also considered. This computation is relevant for the theoretical analysis of the direct detection of dark matter in current experiments. We discuss interesting supergravity and superstring scenarios.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, Proceedings of the International Workshop on Astroparticle and High Energy Physics, AHEP-200

Field-effect transistor improves electrometer amplifier

An electrometer amplifier uses a field effect transistor to measure currents of low amperage. The circuit, developed as an ac amplifier, is used with an external filter which limits bandwidth to achieve optimum noise performance

The μν\mu\nuSSM and gravitino dark matter

We consider the phenomenological implications of gravitino dark matter in the context of the $\mu\nu$SSM. The latter is an R-parity breaking model which provides a solution to the $\mu$-problem of the MSSM and explains the origin of neutrino masses by simply using right-handed neutrino superfields. In particular, we analyze the prospects for detecting gamma rays from decaying gravitinos. Gravitino masses larger than 20 GeV are disfavored by the isotropic diffuse photon background measurements, but a gravitino with a mass range between $0.1 - 20$ GeV gives rise to a signal that might easily be observed by the FERMI satellite. Through this kind of analysis important regions of the parameter space of the $\mu\nu$SSM can be checked.Comment: Proceedings of DSU09 "The Dark Side of the Universe", 1-5 June 2009, Melbourne, 7 pages, 2 figure