Probing the supersymmetric parameter space by weakly interacting massive particle direct detection

We discuss to what extent the present experiments of direct search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), when interpreted in terms of relic neutralinos, probe interesting regions of the supersymmetric parameter space, which are also being progressively explored at accelerators. Our analysis is performed in a number of different supersymmetric schemes. We derive the relevant neutralino cosmological properties, locally and on the average in the universe. We prove that part of the supersymmetric (SUSY) configurations probed by current WIMP experiments entails relic neutralinos of cosmological interest. The main astrophysical and particle physics uncertainties, relevant for a proper comparison between theory and experimental data, are stressed and taken into account.