Symmetry in Dark Matter Models
A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Physics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 326
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Symmetry in dark matter models assumes dark matter and dark energy particles exist in equal and opposite pairs, similar to baryonic matter. Asymmetry suggests that dark matter, like visible matter, originated from an imbalance between particles and antiparticles. This asymmetry hypothesis is motivated by the observed similarity in the mass densities of dark matter (visible matter) and a common origin with visible matter, where a similar particle–antiparticle asymmetry was responsible for the survival of visible matter.
Symmetric dark matter: In this model, the abundance of dark matter arises from the thermal equilibrium of particles and antiparticles in the early universe. As the universe cooled, the expansion rate outpaced annihilation, leaving a relic abundance of particles. The abundance is often determined by the interactions between dark matter and standard model particles.
Asymmetric dark matter (ADM): This model suggests that dark matter has a similar origin to the observed baryon asymmetry: a primordial imbalance between matter and antimatter.
o The dark matter particle and its antiparticle were created in equal numbers, but a mechanism later converted a portion of the dark antiparticles into dark matter particles.
o This process is similar to baryogenesis in the visible sector, making it a compelling model that links the two asymmetries.
o Some ADM models involve a "mirror sector" with its own symmetries and interactions, where a spontaneous breaking of a mirror symmetry leads to a dark matter sector with different properties from the visible sector.
Implications: The distinction between symmetric and asymmetric models has significant implications for direct detection experiments. Symmetric models require very weak couplings between dark matter and the visible sector, while asymmetric models allow for comparatively stronger interactions.
Dr. Szadkowski Zbigniew
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- asymmetric dark matter
- baryon asymmetry
- mirror symmetry
- spontaneous symmetry breaking
- dark sector
- cosmic web
- particle-antiparticle mixing
- sphaleron processes
- lepton asymmetry
- majorana neutrinos
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