LSP as a candidate for dark matter

Abstract

The most recent observations by the WMAP satellite provided us with data of unprecedented accuracy regarding the parameters describing the Standard Cosmological Model. The current matter-energy density of the Universe is close to its critical value of which 73% is attributed to Dark Energy, 23% to Cold Dark Matter and only 4% is ordinary matter of baryonic nature. The origins of the Dark Energy (DE) and Dark Matter (DM) constitute the biggest challenge of Modern Astroparticle Physics. Particle theories, which will be tested in the next round experiments in large accelerators, such as the LHC, provide candidates for DM while at the same time can be consistent with the DE component. We give a pedagogical account on the DM problem and the possibility that this has supersymmetric origin. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.