Searching for the Dark Matter Wind: Recent Progress in Directional Detection

The nature of dark matter is one of the fundamental questions in physics today. Several experiments have recently claimed signals consistent dark matter interactions, although none are yet independently confirmed. Directional detection seeks to correlate a dark matter candidate nuclear recoil signal, in a detector deep underground, with the earth's motion through the galactic halo. The unique angular signature of the dark matter wind, which is distinct from all known backgrounds, has potential to make a definitive identification of dark matter. The design strategy of directional detectors emphasizes tracking at energies below 100 keV, in order to reconstruct WIMP-induced nuclear recoil tracks, and thereby determine the direction of incident dark matter particles. This talk will review the experimental technique and current status of directional searches.