New Directions in Dark Matter Detection

For many years, the search for dark matter has focused on particles near the weak scale. The increased sensitivity of relevant
experiments, together with their lack of discovery, has emphasized the need for new ideas for dark matter that go beyond the weak scale. Such an effort is crucial towards resolving the identity of dark matter. One promising possibility is lighter dark matter, which has gained much traction in recent years. In this context, I will present new proposals for the direct detection of light dark matter which hold much promise. These include the use of superconductors, two-dimensional targets such as graphene, and Dirac materials. Considering dark matter interactions with these targets, I will demonstrate the potential of the light dark matter direct detection program in upcoming years.