The hidden universe: what is the subatomic component of dark matter?

About 85% of the universe consists of dark matter. Although gravitational measurements have provided overwhelming astronomical evidence for the existence of dark matter, the actual particles have not been observed yet. This programme will enable the researchers to participate in the XENON collaboration for the direct detection of dark matter. In addition to this they will carry out a systematic theoretical study that will combine data from a wide range of astrophysical and physical experiments to discover as much as possible about the characteristics of dark matter particles.

Programme leader Dr. Patrick Decowski (Nikhef/UvA): "Worldwide scientists are looking for dark matter particles. Everybody wants to be the first to discover these. Nikhef is involved as a partner in the current XENON100 experiment - the most sensitive dark matter experiment performed to date - and its successor XENON1T, an experiment 100 times more sensitive that will start in 2015. As a result of the experimental and theoretical projects in the programme the Netherlands will become a world leader in the field of dark matter." 

The programme is a collaboration between scientists from the GRAPPA Institute at the University of Amsterdam and FOM Institute Nikhef.