Searching for Dark Matter at Hadron Colliders

TL;DR

This paper reviews the methods and results of dark matter searches at hadron colliders, especially the LHC, highlighting current bounds and the effectiveness of different detection approaches.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of experimental bounds, theoretical frameworks, and the comparative sensitivity of collider and direct detection experiments for dark matter.

Findings

LHC sets stronger bounds on spin-dependent interactions than direct detection.

Direct detection experiments are more sensitive to spin-independent interactions for WIMP masses above a few GeV.

Current collider bounds significantly constrain dark matter interaction models.

Abstract

Theoretical and experimental techniques employed in dedicated searches for dark matter at hadron colliders are reviewed. Bounds from the 7 and 8 TeV proton-proton collisions at the LHC on dark matter interactions have been collected and the results interpreted. We review the current status of the Effective Field Theory picture of dark matter interactions with the Standard Model. Currently, LHC experiments have stronger bounds on operators leading to spin-dependent scattering than direct detection experiments, while direct detection probes are more constraining for spin-independent scattering for WIMP masses above a few GeV.