摘要

The discovery of the 125 GeV Higgs boson at the LHC completes the search for the particles of the Standard Model (SM). However, many observational and theoretical questions remain unanswered and require additional physics beyond the SM framework. One of these regards the nature of the dark matter (DM) of the Universe, whose existence is inferred by astrophysical and cosmological observations, though the only thing that we know about these DM is their gravitational interactions with the SM particles.

Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) are a popular and well motivated class of candidates which can explain the nature of DM. In this talk, I will first review and summarize the current status of WIMP DM searches. I will then discuss highlights of my work on the subject, which branches out is several directions: experimental tests of DM models, DM direct detection in underground detectors, DM indirect detection in astrophysical phenomena, and direct production of DM particles in colliders.

Finally, I will discuss prospects for the future, showing that there exist realistic and well motivated expectations for a DM discovery in the upcoming 20 to 30 years.