Objective Identifying Dark Matter is a top priority in Particle Physics and Cosmology. Among Dark Matter candidates, WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles) play a special role, since they naturally arise from well motivated extensions of the standard model of particle physics. As I have argued in a recent \textsl{Nature} paper, with the advent of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, and of a new generation of astroparticle experiments, the moment of truth has come for WIMPs, for we will either discover them in the next 5 to 10 years, or we will inevitably witness the decline of the WIMP paradigm.My collaborators and I have actually been preparing for this crucial moment for Dark Matter searches by setting up sophisticated statistical tools, strong connections with experimental collaborations, and an extensive expertise in theoretical models. We are now ready to perform the most complete analysis of Dark Matter data (from direct, indirect and accelerator searches, including all astrophysical uncertainties) in the framework of the most promising BSM (Beyond the Standard Model) theories, including Supersymmetry and Universal Extra Dimensions.Backed from a well established network of international collaborators, this project aims at becoming part of the theoretical backbone of astroparticle activities in Europe, and to exploit the data that will become available from the LHC at CERN, as well as from several infrastructures included in the ESFRI and ASPERA roadmaps, such as underground Dark Matter detectors and Neutrinos and Cherenkov Telescopes. No matter what the experimental results are, the impact on our understanding of the Universe will be dramatic, for we will either severely constrain possible extensions of the Standard Model, and push them to unnatural territory, or we will finally obtain incontrovertible for Dark Matter, therefore opening a new era in Particle Physics and Cosmology. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsneutrinosnatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsparticle acceleratornatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyastrophysicsdark matternatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyphysical cosmology Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-PE2 - ERC Starting Grant - Fundamental constituents of matter Call for proposal ERC-2011-StG_20101014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Coordinator UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM Address Spui 21 1012WX Amsterdam Netherlands See on map Region West-Nederland Noord-Holland Groot-Amsterdam Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Jo Lansbergen (Ms.) Principal investigator Gianfranco Bertone (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM Netherlands EU contribution € 1 248 120,00 Address Spui 21 1012WX Amsterdam See on map Region West-Nederland Noord-Holland Groot-Amsterdam Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Jo Lansbergen (Ms.) Principal investigator Gianfranco Bertone (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
