Astroparticle Physics: Dark Matter and Galaxy Dynamics

This lecture introduces astroparticle physics, covering topics such as dark matter, WIMPs, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, and the thermal history of the Universe. It explores the rotation curves of galaxies, the velocity dispersion of elliptical galaxies, and the presence of dark matter in galaxy clusters. The lecture also discusses direct detection experiments for dark matter, including the search for WIMPs and the annual modulation effect. Various methods for detecting dark matter, such as gravitational lensing and X-ray observations in galaxy clusters, are explained. The presentation concludes with a discussion on the limits of the WIMP-nuclei interaction cross-section.