DarkSUSY - A numerical package for dark matter calculations in the MSSM

TL;DR

DarkSUSY provides a comprehensive public toolset for neutralino dark matter in the MSSM, enabling the computation of SUSY mass spectra, relic density with resonances and coannihilations, accelerator bounds, and a wide range of direct and indirect detection rates. The package integrates detailed halo modeling, Monte Carlo yields (via Pythia), and multiple propagation frameworks to generate realistic predictions for gamma rays, neutrinos, antiprotons, and positrons. Its key contributions include systematic treatment of coannihilations, loop-corrected masses, flexible bounds, and a modular framework that researchers can adapt for phenomenological MSSM studies. This tool significantly facilitates the evaluation of MSSM dark matter viability and the interpretation of experimental results.

Abstract

The question of the nature of the dark matter in the Universe remains one of the most outstanding unsolved problems in basic science. One of the best motivated particle physics candidates is the lightest supersymmetric particle, assumed to be the lightest neutralino. We here describe DarkSUSY, an advanced numerical FORTRAN package for supersymmetric dark matter calculations which we release for public use. With the help of this package, the masses and compositions of various supersymmetric particles can be computed, for given input parameters of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM). For the lightest neutralino, the relic density is computed, using accurate methods which include the effects of resonances, pair production thresholds and coannihilations. Accelerator bounds are checked to identify viable dark matter candidates. Finally, detection rates are computed for a variety of detection methods, such as direct detection and indirect detection through antiprotons, gamma-rays and positrons from the Galactic halo or neutrinos from the center of the Earth or the Sun.