Review of astroparticle physics

Abstract

Observational cosmology is currently in its golden years. Using a variety of observational techniques the anisotropy of the CMB and the large-scale structure of the Universe is explored. In combination with large statistics observations of Supernova Ia and the measurement of the Hubble parameter by the HST key project cosmological parameters such as the total density of the universe and the rate of cosmological expansion are being precisely measured for the first time. A consistent standard picture of the universe is beginning to emerge. Recent developments in cosmology show that the interplay between astrophysics and particle accelerator results will allow us to perform tests of fundamental theories which cannot be done by accelerator experiments alone. A new generation of space experiments for the precision measurements of cosmic rays like PAMELA, GLAST and AMS will open a new window to understand the nature of dark matter. DAMA has claimed evidence with 6.3 σ C.L. to have observed the expected annual modulation for a WIMP signal. A variety of direct WIMP search experiments have shown evidence that they will reach within the next few years a sensitivity necessary to discover dark matter as predicted by SUSY models.