A team of scientists has proposed a new candidate for dark matter: the gravitino. This particle, predicted by N=8 supergravity theory, could be detected using underground detectors like the JUNO detector in China. The researchers simulated the signature of a gravitino passing through the detector and found that it would leave a unique signal impossible to confuse with other particles. If detected, gravitinos would provide valuable evidence for a unified theory of gravity and particles.
The discovery of dark matter is one of the biggest mysteries in fundamental physics. Despite extensive searches, scientists have yet to find conclusive evidence for this enigmatic substance. However, a new study published in Physical Review Research suggests that the gravitino, a particle predicted by N=8 supergravity theory, could be a viable candidate for dark matter.
Gravitinos are predicted to have masses on the order of the Planck mass, making them extremely difficult to detect directly. Nevertheless, their detection would provide valuable evidence for a unified theory of gravity and particles. The researchers used advanced simulations to predict the signature of a gravitino passing through the JUNO detector, which aims to study neutrinos.
The simulations showed that the passage of a gravitino would leave a unique signal, making it impossible to confuse with other particles. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of dark matter and the search for a unified theory of gravity and particles.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-09-gravitino-candidate-dark.html