Particle nature of dark matter

Determine the particle nature of dark matter by identifying its mass, quantum numbers, and interaction strengths with Standard Model states.

Background

The authors list the dark matter problem as one of the key open questions motivating physics beyond the Standard Model. Understanding the microphysical properties of dark matter remains central to particle physics and cosmology.

The muon collider PDF-based strategy introduced in the paper is presented as a new indirect avenue that could, in principle, probe light, weakly-coupled sectors relevant to dark matter models through deviations in parton evolution and kinematics.

References

Among these are the apparent unnaturalness of the electroweak scale, the particle nature of dark matter (DM), and the origin of the observed flavor hierarchies. These open problems suggest the existence of new physics beyond the SM (BSM) and have motivated extensive theoretical and experimental efforts to uncover it.

— On the Run from the Dark Side of the Muon  (2602.16771 - Asadi et al., 18 Feb 2026) in Section 1 (Introduction)

Despite accounting for approximately $85\%$ of the total matter content of the Universe , the fundamental nature of Dark Matter (DM) remains a major open question.

— A relook at a low reheating temperature: Freeze-in versus Freeze-out  (2609.26348 - Choudhury et al., 22 Sep 2026) in Section 1, Introduction

Meanwhile, the DM relic abundance is accurately measured, while its particle nature remains unknown.

— Neutrino mass, scalar dark matter, and collider signatures in a radiative doublet-triplet model  (2609.08808 - Bamwidhi et al., 8 Sep 2026) in Section 1, Introduction

The origin of cosmic rays (CRs) and the particle nature of dark matter (DM) remain two fundamental open questions in astroparticle physics. CRs are generally thought to be accelerated in astrophysical environments such as supernova remnants (P. Blasi 2013), but their sources, acceleration mechanisms, and subsequent propagation through the Galaxy are not yet fully understood (A. W. Strong et al. 2007). At the same time, the existence of DM is supported by a wide range of gravitational evidence, yet its microscopic identity remains unknown (S. Navas et al. 2024).

— Dark Matter Particle Explorer: Ten-Year On-Orbit Performance and Scientific Outcomes  (2610.21168 - Guo et al., 15 Oct 2026) in Section 1, Introduction