New Directions for Light Dark Matter

Dark matter is one of the biggest mysteries of modern day physics, yet its identity remains unknown. In this talk, I will focus on light dark matter. From the theory side, I will discuss new theoretical developments that suggest light dark matter. From the experimental side, I will present new proposals for the direct detection of light dark matter which hold much promise. These include the use of superconducting nanowires, two-dimensional targets such as graphene, and heavy fermion materials. Considering dark matter interactions with these targets, I will demonstrate the potential of the light dark matter direct detection program in upcoming years.