Photino
CompositionElementary particle
StatisticsFermionic
FamilyFermion
InteractionsElectromagnetic
StatusHypothetical
Symbol
γ͂
Electric charge0 e
Spin1/2

A photino is a hypothetical subatomic particle, the fermion WIMP superpartner of the photon predicted by supersymmetry.[1][2] It is an example of a gaugino. Even though no photino has ever been observed so far, it is one of the candidates for the lightest supersymmetric particle in the universe.[3] It is proposed that photinos are produced by sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays.[4]

Photino numbers

Photinos have a lepton number 0, baryon number 0, and spin 1/2. With an R-parity of −1 it is a possible candidate for dark matter.[5] It mixes with the superpartners of the Z boson (zino) and the neutral higgs (higgsino) to form the neutralino.

See also

  • Supersymmetry – Symmetry between bosons and fermions
  • Photon – Elementary particle or quantum of light
  • Dual photon – Hypothetical particle dual to the photon
  • Electromagnetism – Fundamental interaction between charged particles

References

  1. ^ "Tracking down the missing mass". New Scientist. Reed Business Information: 32. 9 January 1986. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  2. ^ STENGER, V. J. (1985). "Photinos from cosmic sources". Nature. 317 (6036): 411–413. Bibcode:1985Natur.317..411S. doi:10.1038/317411a0. S2CID 4312378.
  3. ^ Information, Reed Business (9 January 1986). "Tracking down the missing mass". New Scientist (1490): 32. Retrieved 24 September 2015. ((cite journal)): |first1= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ STENGER, V. J. (3 October 1985). "Photinos from cosmic sources". Nature. 317 (6036): 411–413. Bibcode:1985Natur.317..411S. doi:10.1038/317411a0. S2CID 4312378.
  5. ^ Srednicki, M. (2012). Particle Physics and Cosmology: Dark Matter. Elsevier. p. 283. ISBN 978-0-444-59609-3. Retrieved 19 June 2020.


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