Dark Matter on the lattice

Title: 

Dark Matter on the lattice

Abstract: 

The nature of dark matter, one of the greatest mysteries of fundamental physics, is still unknown, mainly because we lack direct experimental evidence. This talk is about how the use of lattice field theory for strongly interacting dark matter models is a valuable approach to understanding its true nature. I will cover two topics to showcase the use of the lattice for dark matter physics.
The first part covers the effect of dark matter on the properties of neutron stars, making use of lattice-determined equations of state. In the second part, I will present a strongly interacting massive particle (SIMP) model described by an Sp(4) gauge group. This model relies on self-scattering properties that address both small-scale structure problems and relic density, and which are dictated by non-perturbative dynamics. I will present lattice calculations to determine the relevant scattering observables and show how this translates into a velocity-dependent cross section and a constraint on the mass of the dark matter candidate in the theory.