Grant: Canada Research Chairs

Dark matter is an unidentified substance which makes up about 85% of the total matter content of the Universe. Discovering its nature is of utmost importance in our understanding of the cosmos. Although evidence for dark matter exists on various astrophysical and cosmological scales, the particle nature of dark matter still remains a mystery. Dr. Bozorgnia is a leading expert in the field of dark matter. Her research program aims to map the dark matter content in our Galaxy, and employ this map to unravel the particle nature of dark matter. A variety of experiments, ranging from underground detectors to space observatories are currently operating around the globe and searching for dark matter. Correct interpretation of their results requires an understanding of how dark matter is distributed in our Galaxy, yet this knowledge is currently lacking. We are living in an exciting era to search for dark matter. The recent data from the Gaia space observatory has revolutionized our understanding of the Milky Way, and can provide us with crucial information on the dark matter distribution. Furthermore, there have been many recent advances in high resolution cosmological simulations of galaxy formation, and they can now produce realistic galaxies. Dr. Bozorgnia's research will capitalize on the availability of these data in order to understand and probe the dark matter distribution in the Milky Way. Dr. Bozorgnia will use three specific approaches to extract the dark matter distribution in our Galaxy. In the first approach, she will use the results of high resolution cosmological simulations to extract the dark matter distribution from Milky Way-like galaxies. In the second approach, she will use new astronomical data, together with novel numerical techniques, to identify the changes in the position and velocity of stars due to their interaction with dark matter clumps. In the third approach, she will identify new ways to probe the dark matter distribution and interaction type with future directional dark matter detectors, which can measure the arrival direction of dark matter particles in our labs. The results of this research program will shed light on the distribution of dark matter in our Galaxy, its mass, and the way it interacts with ordinary matter. It will lead to an accurate interpretation of data from dark matter experiments, and will allow us to determine the particle physics properties of dark matter.