WMAP constraints on SUGRA models with non-universal gaugino masses and prospects for direct detection

We discuss constraints on supersymmetric models arising from the relic density measurements of WMAP as well as from direct and precision measurements, LEP, b --> sgamma, (g-2)mu, B-S --> mu(+)mu(-). We consider mSUGRA models and their extensions with non-universal gaugino masses. We find, as commonly. known, that the relic density pinpoints towards very specific regions of the mSUGRA models: coannihilation, focus and heavy Higgs annihilation. The allowed regions widen significantly when varying the top quark mass. Introducing some non-universality in the gaugino masses significantly changes this conclusion as in specific non-universal models the relic density upper limit can be easily satisfied. This occurs with models where M-1 > M-2 at the GUT scale when the LSP has a high wino component. Models where M-3 < M-2 favours the Higgs annihilation channel in large regions of parameter space and at large tan P also favours the annihilation of neutralinos in gauge bosons pairs. We discuss also the potential of direct detection experiments to probe supersymmetric models and point out at the main consequences for colliders based on the mass spectrum. Our calculation of the relic density of neutralinos is based on micrOMEGAs and the SUSY spectrum is generated with SOFTSUSY. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.