Academia Sinica Logo

【Abstract】

The QCD axion is a compelling candidate for the dark matter that makes up 85% of the total mass of the universe. In the first part of the talk, I will discuss its original motivation to solve the Strong CP problem, how it can fit into the cosmological paradigm, and various constraints on this new particle. In the second part of the talk, I will highlight the technical challenges (opportunities for innovation) to search for axion dark matter over the widest possible mass ranges. I argue that searches for axion dark matter are excellent mid-scale non-accelerator-based particle physics projects going into the next decade.