The current widely-accepted standard cosmological model predicts that the universe is composed of roughly 24 percent non-baryonic dark matter. So far the existence of dark matter has been inferred only from its gravitational influence on large scales and indirect detection through the measurement of the secondary products of dark matter annihilations or decays is an important avenue to reveal the nature of dark matter.

   The research group for dark matter indirect detection and related physics has been concentrated on hunting for dark matter particles in cosmic rays (e.g., electrons, positrons and antiprotons) and gamma-rays. As a key unit of the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) mission, the first ever space observatory of China, this group is deeply involvedin the software development, the on-orbit simulation, the data analysis and the interpretation of the measured spectra of cosmic rays and gamma-rays. The group was founded in late 2015 by Prof. Yi-Zhong Fan, the principal deputy chief designer of scientific application system and the leader of the science group of DAMPE. Dr. Li Xiang (李翔), the DAMPE distinguished fellow, is responsible for the on-orbit simulation and data analysis for cosmic electrons and gamma rays of the DAMPE satellite. Dr. Feng Lei (冯磊) mainly works on the theoretical interpretation of the data. Some other junior members include Dr. Liang Yunfeng (梁云峰), Dr. Yue Chuan (岳川), Dr. Li Shang (李尚), Dr. Shen Zhaoqiang(沈兆强), and Dr. Xia Ziqing(夏子晴). In tight collaboration with Prof. Yuan Qiang(袁强) and Prof. Huang Xiaoyuan(黄晓渊) from the laboratory of dark matter and space astronomy, this group is also active in dark matter and cosmic ray physics studies with Fermi-LAT and AMS-02 data. Benefited from the close and long-term collaboration with the group led by Prof. Wei Daming (韦大明), this group has contributed significantly to the gamma-ray burst physics and the gravitational wave astrophysics. The most exciting progresses made so far include the accurate measurement of the cosmic ray electron and positron spectrum with DAMPE, the identification of possible dark matter annihilation signals in the antiprotons and the gamma-rays in the direction of the Galactic center, and the detection of Li-Paczynski macronova/kilonova candidates in the afterglows of quite a few short/long-short GRBs (including GRB 060614, GRB 050709, GRB 160821B and GRB 070809).