The Cosmos and WIMPs

Probing the Earth with WIMPS*

Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPS), with masses 2 0 (GeV), are candidates for the dark matter in galactic halos. We discuss the distribution and detectability of coherently interacting particles (such as massive Dirac or scalar neutrinos, solar cosmions, and some Majorana fermions) that have been captured into orbits within the Earth. Coherent WIMPS in the mass range from 8 to 21 GeV ...

WIMPs and MACHOs

Direct Detection of WIMPs

In the next chapters we are going to give an overview of the main WIMP search strategies, which fall in three big categories: • Direct searches probe the scattering cross section of WIMPs with nuclei, by looking for nuclear recoils in some target material in a low background environment. When a WIMP of the galactic halo passes through the target, it may scatter off a nucleus, whose recoil will ...

On Meteors, Earthworms and Wimps

We study a model of mass redistribution on a finite graph. We address the questions of convergence to equilibrium and the rate of convergence. We present theorems on the distribution of empty sites and the distribution of mass at a fixed vertex. These distributions are related to random permutations with certain peak sets.

3 Neutrinos and the Cosmos

Gustavo Branco’s distinguished contributions include leading ones to neutrino physics, CP violation, and leptogenesis. To plan the future experimental exploration of some of the physics to which Prof. Branco has contributed, and which is near and dear to his heart, several studies focusing on neutrinos have been carried out. I would like to report on one of these, sponsored by four Divisions of...