What theoretical particle is often linked with the research of dark matter?

The theoretical particle linked with the research of dark matter is often identified as a WIMP, or Weakly Interacting Massive Particle. WIMPs are hypothesized to be a class of particles that could make up dark matter due to their predicted properties. Dark matter is known to exert gravitational effects on visible matter, yet it does not interact with electromagnetic forces, which means it does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational influence.

WIMPs are particularly compelling candidates because they would have mass, making them suitable for providing the necessary density of matter in the universe to explain the gravitational effects attributed to dark matter. Additionally, their weak interaction with other matter would allow them to pass through normal matter without being easily detected, aligning with the elusive nature of dark matter.

In contrast, photons, quarks, and electrons do not fulfill the characteristics that make WIMPs plausible candidates for dark matter. Photons, being massless particles of light, do not contribute to mass-based gravitational effects in the same way that WIMPs would. Quarks are fundamental components of protons and neutrons but are part of the standard model of particle physics and do not account for dark matter. Electrons are well-stud