Physics Colloquium: "Status and Prospects for Dark Matter Searches in Gamma Rays"
Please note this event occurred in the past.
October 01, 2025 3:45 pm - 5:15 pm ET
Hasbrouck 124. Refreshments at 3:45. Presentation begins at 4:00.
"Status and Prospects for Dark Matter Searches in Gamma Rays"
Tracy Slatyer, Department of Physics, MIT
Abstract:
Gamma rays provide a window on extremely energetic astrophysical processes occurring in our Milky Way Galaxy and beyond, and could also hold clues to the nature and interactions of dark matter. Dark matter constitutes more than 80% of the matter in the universe by mass, but its nature is largely unknown. I will discuss a range of results on current and future gamma-ray searches for novel dark matter physics, including prospects for testing classic dark matter scenarios at upcoming ground-based gamma-ray telescopes, the status of a detected excess of gamma rays from the inner Galaxy, and what (if anything) gamma-ray polarization could teach us about new particles.
"Status and Prospects for Dark Matter Searches in Gamma Rays"
Tracy Slatyer, Department of Physics, MIT
Abstract:
Gamma rays provide a window on extremely energetic astrophysical processes occurring in our Milky Way Galaxy and beyond, and could also hold clues to the nature and interactions of dark matter. Dark matter constitutes more than 80% of the matter in the universe by mass, but its nature is largely unknown. I will discuss a range of results on current and future gamma-ray searches for novel dark matter physics, including prospects for testing classic dark matter scenarios at upcoming ground-based gamma-ray telescopes, the status of a detected excess of gamma rays from the inner Galaxy, and what (if anything) gamma-ray polarization could teach us about new particles.