Browsing: Dark Photon

Dark photons are hypothetical particles proposed as a component of dark matter, which is believed to make up about 85% of the universe’s mass and yet does not emit or interact with electromagnetic radiation like ordinary matter. Dark photons are theorized to be force carriers similar to photons—the particles associated with electromagnetic force—but for a dark electromagnetic force that interacts only with dark matter. Unlike regular photons, dark photons would have mass and could interact weakly with ordinary matter, potentially influencing the behavior of visible particles under certain conditions. The concept of dark photons extends from extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics, which aim to explain phenomena that the model cannot, such as the nature of dark matter. Experiments and observations continue to search for signs of dark photons, as their discovery could profoundly impact our understanding of the universe’s fundamental forces and composition.