Probing Supersymmetric Parameters With Astrophysical Observations

Abstract

A wide range of techniques have been developed to search for particle dark matter, including direct detection, indirect detection, and collider searches. The prospects for the detection of neutralino dark matter is quite promising for each of these three very different methods. Looking ahead to a time in which these techniques have successfully detected neutralino dark matter, we explore the ability of these observations to determine the parameters of supersymmetry. In particular, we focus on the ability of direct and indirect detection techniques to measure the parameters $\mu$ and $m_A$. We find that $\mu$ can be much more tightly constrained if astrophysical measurements are considered than by LHC data alone. In supersymmetric models within the $A$-funnel region of parameter space, we find that astrophysical measurements can determine $m_A$ to roughly $\pm100$ GeV precision.Comment: Prepared for the 7th international UCLA symposium on sources and detection of dark matter and dark energy in the universe (DM 2006) 2006, Marina del Rey, California, 22-24 Feb 200