Hypothetical particles are proposed physical entities that extend or modify established particle content in a given theoretical framework, typically introduced to resolve inconsistencies, explain unexplained phenomena, or complete symmetries in high-energy and gravitational physics. As physical systems, they are characterized by well-defined quantum numbers, interaction types, mass scales, and roles in Lagrangian formulations, yet they lack direct experimental confirmation. Examples in model-building include particles postulated in supersymmetry, grand unified theories, dark matter and dark energy models, and quantum gravity scenarios, where their properties are constrained by consistency with known symmetries, renormalizability, cosmological evolution, and precision tests of the Standard Model and general relativity.
Dark matter, predicted to account for most of the universe's mass, remains highly elusive. Physicists have been searching for various particles that could be promising dark matter candidates, such as dark photons and axions, ...
From the early days of quantum mechanics, scientists have thought that all particles can be categorized into one of two groups—bosons or fermions—based on their behavior.
Condensed Matter
Jan 8, 2025
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A key objective of many physics studies is to experimentally observe exotic phenomena beyond the Standard Model (SM) that are predicted by theoretical models. These include hidden valley models, which predict the existence ...
The nature of dark matter has been a hotly debated topic for decades. If it's a heavy, slow moving particle, then it's just possible that neutrinos may be emitted during interactions with normal matter.
Astronomy
Dec 9, 2024
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Dark matter made out of axions may have the power to make space-time ring like a bell, but only if it is able to steal energy from black holes, according to new research.
Astronomy
Nov 25, 2024
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Particle physicists have been looking for so-called "sterile neutrinos" for a few decades now. They are a hypothesized particle that would have a tiny mass like the three known neutrinos but would not interact by the weak ...
The search for the universe's dark matter could end tomorrow—given a nearby supernova and a little luck. The nature of dark matter has eluded astronomers for 90 years, since the realization that 85% of the matter in the ...
Astronomy
Nov 21, 2024
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Dark photons are hypothetical particles that resemble light particles (i.e., photons), but interact weakly with normal matter, which would make them impossible or very difficult to detect using conventional experimental methods. ...
A team of physicists from the universities of Amsterdam, Princeton and Oxford have shown that extremely light particles known as axions may occur in large clouds around neutron stars. These axions could form an explanation ...
Astronomy
Oct 18, 2024
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One of the great challenges of modern cosmology is to reveal the nature of dark matter. We know it exists (it constitutes more than 85% of the matter in the universe), but we have never seen it directly and still do not know ...
Astronomy
Oct 4, 2024
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