Lightest Supersymmetric Particle

In particle physics, the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) is the generic name given to the lightest of the additional hypothetical particles found in supersymmetric models. In models with R-parity conservation, the LSP is stable. There is extensive observational evidence for an additional component of the matter density in the Universe that goes under the name dark matter. The LSP of supersymmetric models is a dark matter candidate and is a Weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP).[1]

Constraints on LSP from cosmology

The LSP is unlikely to be a charged wino, charged higgsino, slepton, sneutrino, gluino, squark, or gravitino but is most likely a mixture of neutral higgsinos, the bino and the neutral winos,[2] i.e. a neutralino. In particular, if the LSP were charged (and is abundant in our galaxy) such particles would have been captured by the Earth's magnetic field and form heavy hydrogen-like atoms.[3] Searches for anomalous hydrogen in natural water[4] however have been without any evidence for such particles and thus put severe constraints on the existence of a charged LSP.

Lightest Supersymmetric Particle as a dark matter candidate

Dark matter particles must be electrically neutral; otherwise they would scatter light and thus not be "dark". They must also almost certainly be non-colored.[5] With these constraints, the LSP could be the lightest neutralino, the gravitino, or the lightest sneutrino.

In extra dimensional theories, there are analogous particles called LKP's or Lightest Kaluza-Klein Particle. These are the stable particles of extra-dimensional theories.[7]

See also

References

  1. Jungman, Gerard; Kamionkowski, Marc; Griest, Kim. "Supersymmetric dark matter". Phys. Rept. 267 (5–6): 195–373. doi:10.1016/0370-1573(95)00058-5.
  2. Ellis, John R.; Hagelin, J.S.; Nanopoulos, Dimitri V.; Olive, Keith A.; Srednicki, M. (July 1983). "Supersymmetric Relics from the Big Bang". Nucl. Phys. B238 (2): 453–476. Bibcode:1984NuPhB.238..453E. doi:10.1016/0550-3213(84)90461-9.
  3. Byrne, Mark; Kolda, Christopher; Regan, Peter (2002). "Bounds on Charged, Stable Superpartners from Cosmic Ray Production". Physical Review D 66 (7). arXiv:hep-ph/0202252v1. Bibcode:2002PhRvD..66g5007B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.66.075007.
  4. Smith, P.F.; Bennett, J.R.J; Homer, G.J.; Lewin, J.D.; Walford, H.E.; Smith, W.A. (November 1981). "A search for anomalous hydrogen in enriched D2O, using a time-of-flight spectrometer". Nucl. Phys. B206 (3): 333–348. Bibcode:1982NuPhB.206..333S. doi:10.1016/0550-3213(82)90271-1.
  5. McGuire, Patrick C.; Steinhardt, Paul (May 2001). "Cracking open the window for strongly interacting massive particles as the halo dark matter". Proceedings of the 27th International Cosmic Ray Conference. 07-15 August 4: 1566. arXiv:astro-ph/0105567. Bibcode:2001ICRC....4.1566M.
  6. Tucker-Smith, David.; Weiner, Neal (February 2004). "The Status of inelastic dark matter". Physical Review D 72 (6). arXiv:hep-ph/0402065. Bibcode:2005PhRvD..72f3509T. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.72.063509.
  7. Servant, Geraldine.; Tait, Tim M.P. (September 2003). "Is the Lightest Kaluza-Klein Particle a Viable Dark Matter Candidate?". Nuclear Physics B 650: 391. arXiv:hep-ph/0206071. Bibcode:2003NuPhB.650..391S. doi:10.1016/S0550-3213(02)01012-X.


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