ar X iv : h ep - p h / 94 11 35 0 v 1 2 1 N ov 1 99 4 SEARCHING FOR SUSY DARK MATTER

The possibility of detecting supersymmetric dark matter is examined within the framework of the minimal supergravity model (MSGM), where the˜Z 1 is the LSP for almost the entire parameter space. A brief discussion is given of experimental strategies for detecting dark matter. The relic density is constrained to obey 0.10 ≤ Ω ˜ Z 1 h 2 ≤0.35, consistent with COBE data. Expected event rates for an array of possible terrestial detectors (3 He, CaF 2 , Ge, GaAs, NaI and Pb) are examined. In general, detectors relying on coherrent˜Z 1-nucleus scattering are more sensitive than detectors relying on incoherrent (spin-dependent) scattering. The dependence of the event rates as a function of the SUSY parameters are described. The detectors are generally most sensitive to the small m 0 and small m ˜ q and large tanβ part of the parameter space. The current b → s + γ decay rate eliminates regions of large event rates for µ > 0, but allows large event rates to still occur for µ < 0. MSGM models that also possess SU(5)-type proton decay generally predict event rates below the expected sensitivity of current dark matter detectors.