INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE NATURE OF DARK MATTER AND ITS POTENTIAL INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER PARTICLES

Abstract

Background: Despite constituting approximately 27% of the total mass-energy content of the universe, the fundamental nature of dark matter remains one of the most pressing mysteries in modern physics. While its gravitational effects are well-documented—from galaxy rotation curves to cosmic microwave background (CMB) fluctuations—dark matter's non-gravitational interactions, if any, remain elusive.

Objective: This paper investigates the theoretical foundations, experimental strategies, and phenomenological constraints related to dark matter candidates and their potential interactions with Standard Model and beyond-Standard Model particles. By analyzing both direct and indirect detection efforts, as well as collider-based searches, we aim to map the current landscape of dark matter research and identify promising future directions.

Methods: We explore leading candidates such as Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), axions, sterile neutrinos, and dark photons through a combination of theoretical modeling, data from direct detection experiments (e.g., XENONnT, LUX-ZEPLIN), and collider constraints from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Monte Carlo simulations and likelihood-based data analysis are used to establish exclusion limits and to compare competing interaction models.

Results: While no conclusive detection of dark matter particles has been achieved, current experimental data significantly constrain the allowed parameter space for WIMPs and axions. Collider experiments place upper bounds on cross-sections for dark sector production, while indirect detection methods have yet to identify statistically significant annihilation or decay signals. These findings underscore the need for next-generation experiments with enhanced sensitivity and broader theoretical frameworks.

Conclusion: The search for dark matter continues to challenge our understanding of fundamental physics. This work highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches combining cosmology, particle physics, and astrophysics. Future progress will likely depend on both technological advancements in detection and theoretical innovations that extend beyond the Standard Model.