Most of the relevant topics on the dark matter in the universe are discussed. The present knowledge of the problem is presented and possible solutions are discussed. The actual experimental efforts devoted to determining the nature of the dark matter — baryonic (for instance, brown dwarfs) or non-baryonic (such as supersymmetric particles) — and to detecting it are illustrated, paying particular attention to necessary technological developments.

Contents:The Basic Properties of Liquid Xenon as Related to Its Application in Radiation Detectors (W F Schmidt)Non-Proportionality of the Scintillation Yield in Liquid Xenon and Its Effect on the Energy Resolution for Gamma-Rays (T Doke)Development of Liquid Xenon Detectors for Medical Imaging (V Chepel)The DAMA Pure Liquid Xenon Experiment (R Bernabei)DRIFT: A Dark Matter Detector with Directional Sensitivity (B Morgan)Studies of Barium Ion Mobility in Liquid Xenon (M Miyajima)XENON: A 1-Tonne Liquid Xenon Experiment for a Sensitive Dark Matter Search (E Aprile)Progress on the Enriched Xenon Observatory Double-Beta Decay Experiment (S Waldman)and other papers Readership: Researchers in high energy physics. Keywords:Low Energy Solar Neutrinos;Dark Matter;Double Beta Decay;Liquid Xenon;Gamma-Ray Astronomy;Radiation Detectors

This volume is the latest in a prominent biannual series of scientific meetings on the exciting research topics of dark matter and, more recently, of dark energy. It contains a state-of-the-art update on detection efforts by experimental groups around the world trying to pin down exotic new forms of matter under the names of axions, neutralinos, wimps, primordial black holes, q balls, sterile neutrinos, as well as a tantalizing new form of dark energy component called phantom energy and quintessence. The book is self-contained as it also includes general reviews on recent cosmological observations — supernovae measurements, cosmic matter distribution surveys and cosmic radiation anisotropies — introducing even the uninitiated reader to this fascinating frontier of research.

The proceedings of the first meeting on “New Worlds in Astroparticle Physics” focus on the joint field of particle physics and astrophysics. This is a field widely open to both theory and experiment. Important questions of particle physics — from the role of the Higgs scalar to the deconfined QCD phase, the developments beyond the Standard Model and the subtle behavior of neutrinos — are discussed. The same is true for the relevant questions in astrophysics and cosmology — from the fluctuations in the photon background radiation to large scale structure formation, dark matter searches and the origin of cosmic rays at very high energies. The two viewpoints, from the small sizes or from the large scales, are convergent and reveal the same universe: the universe of astroparticle physics.

These proceedings will contain both general reviews on particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology and detailed discussions on some specific topics. Particular emphasis is put on: (i) physics and instrumentation in solar neutrino experiments (Chlorine, SAGE, GALLEX, SNO, Borexino, Iodine); (ii) present status and prospects of underwater and Antarctic experiments (Baikal, DUMAND, AMANDA, Nestor/SADCO, NEVOD); (iii) cosmic rays and cosmic ray neutrinos (high energy muons underground, atmospheric neutrinos, supernovae neutrinos); (iv) experiments on neutrino masses and mixings; (v) searches for dark matter and double beta decay.

This book presents the progress in cosmic ray physics following the recent results obtained by balloon, satellite and underground experiments. The following topics are reviewed: Composition and propagation of cosmic rays, trapping of charged particles in the earth's magnetic field, atmospheric neutrinos, and high energy photon measurements in space.

The search for dark matter is one of the most relevant topics in astroparticle physics today. It involves many different experimental techniques that should collectively contribute significantly to the identification of the nature and characteristics of the dark matter constituents, offering at the same time much room for new technological developments. The theoretical framework is also essential, both for properly interpreting the different results and for suggesting the most interesting possible candidates and search strategies. This book compares the methods, the developments and the results.

Dark matter and dark energy are one of the central mysteries in modern physics, although modern astrophysical and cosmological observations and particle physics experiments can and will provide vital clues in uncovering its true nature. The DARK 2009 Conference brought together World?s leading researchers in both astrophysics and particle physics, providing an opportunity and platform to present their latest results to the community. The topics covered are wide-ranging, from terrestrial underground experiments to space experimental efforts to search for dark matter, and on the theoretical aspects, from the generating of a fifth family as origin of dark matter, extra dimensions and dark matter to non-standard Wigner classes and dark matter. One of the new highlights was certainly a possible connection between a neutrino mass as observed by nuclear double beta decay and the dark energy. Highly important and relevant in its field, the book presents a vital snapshot of the sometimes seemingly disparate areas of dark matter research and offers an exciting overview of current ideas and future directions.

The workshop collected together theoreticians and experimentalists for a discussion about the most recent experiments and their impact on theoretical ideas. The discussion included the new data from LEP and SLD, the evidence for the top quark from Tevatron, the structure function measurements from HERA, and the searches for dark matter. Also, new projects for physics with large neutrino detectors and CP violation at e+e- factories were presented, and a survey of high energy astroparticle physics was included. Particular attention was paid to the interplay between microscopical and cosmological scales.