TASI Lectures on Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper reviews observational evidence and theoretical motivations for dark matter, discussing its connections to cosmic microwave background and big bang nucleosynthesis, and explores prospects for supersymmetric dark matter.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of dark matter evidence, theoretical models, and future prospects for supersymmetric dark matter.

Findings

Dark matter is supported by multiple observational lines.

Supersymmetric models offer promising dark matter candidates.

Challenges remain in detecting and characterizing dark matter.

Abstract

Observational evidence and theoretical motivation for dark matter are presented and connections to the CMB and BBN are made. Problems for baryonic and neutrino dark matter are summarized. Emphasis is placed on the prospects for supersymmetric dark matter.