Report of the Topical Group on Particle Dark Matter for Snowmass 2021

TL;DR

This report reviews strategies and experimental efforts in particle dark matter research, emphasizing the importance of diverse detection methods, calibration, and modeling to identify and confirm dark matter particles in the coming decade.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the current experimental landscape and outlines priorities for future research and funding to advance particle dark matter detection.

Findings

Diverse experimental approaches increase discovery potential.

Calibration and modeling are crucial for confirming dark matter signals.

Continued funding and R&D are essential for maintaining US leadership in the field.

Abstract

This report summarizes the findings of the CF1 Topical Subgroup to Snowmass 2021, which was focused on particle dark matter. One of the most important scientific goals of the next decade is to reveal the nature of dark matter (DM). To accomplish this goal, we must delve deep, to cover high priority targets including weakly-interacting massive particles (WIMPs), and search wide, to explore as much motivated DM parameter space as possible. A diverse, continuous portfolio of experiments at large, medium, and small scales that includes both direct and indirect detection techniques maximizes the probability of discovering particle DM. Detailed calibrations and modeling of signal and background processes are required to make a convincing discovery. In the event that a candidate particle is found through different means, for example at a particle collider, the program described in this report is also essential to show that it is consistent with the actual cosmological DM. The US has a leading role in both direct and indirect detection dark matter experiments -- to maintain this leading role, it is imperative to continue funding major experiments and support a robust R\&D program.