Fundamental Physics from the Sky: Cosmic Rays, Gamma Rays and the Hunt
  for Dark Matter
  Can we learn about New Physics with astronomical and astro-particle data?
Understanding how this is possible is key to unraveling one of the most
pressing mysteries at the interface of cosmology and particle physics: the
fundamental nature of dark matter. I will discuss some of the recent puzzling
findings in cosmic-ray electron-positron data and in gamma-ray observations
that might be related to dark matter. I will argue that recent cosmic-ray data,
most notably from the Pamela and Fermi satellites, indicate that previously
unaccounted-for powerful sources in the Galaxy inject high-energy electrons and
positrons. Interestingly, this new source class might be related to new
fundamental particle physics, and specifically to pair-annihilation or decay of
galactic dark matter. This exciting scenario is directly constrained by Fermi
gamma-ray observations, which also inform us on astrophysical source
counterparts that could also be responsible for the high-energy
electron-positron excess. Observations of gamma-ray emission from the central
regions of the Galaxy as well as claims on a gamma-ray line at around 130 GeV
also recently triggered a wide-spread interest: I will address the question of
whether we are really observing signals from dark matter annihilation, how to
test this hypothesis, and which astrophysical mechanisms constitute the
relevant background.
