The search for dark matter wimps using Z-prime electroweak probe
LE3 .A278 2018
2018
Sandapen, Ruben Aleksejevs, Aleksandrs Barkanova, Svetlana
Acadia University
Bachelor of Science
Honours
Physics
Years after its discovery by Zwicky in 1933, the true nature and make-up of Dark Matter still elude physicists. Current theories suggest a possible explanation as Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). These particles are new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). Freeze out of thermal equilibrium for WIMPs would have occurred before Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN). Their discovery would provide great insight into the early universe. For this project, the WIMPs were modelled as neutral massive fermions, which interact with Z-prime boson only. We have calculated the thermally averaged cross section for the WIMPs annihilation channel going to the Standard Model fermion anti-fermion pair production. This cross section was compared to the thermally averaged cross section given by the Planck Collaboration in 2015. Exclusion plots were produced from these data to constrian the parameters of the model.
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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3267