Dark Matter Numbers: Baryon & Lepton Conservation

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SUMMARY

Baryon number conservation is established in all interactions, while lepton number conservation remains uncertain regarding its existence and magnitude. The discussion explores the potential for conserved dark matter numbers, suggesting that if such numbers exist, they may be significant and nonzero. The Standard Model (SM) acknowledges baryon number non-conservation through the sphaleron process, particularly at low energy. The conservation of quantum numbers is crucial for the longevity of dark matter particles, with R-parity being a key consideration if they are supersymmetric (SUSY).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of baryon number and lepton number conservation
  • Familiarity with the Standard Model of particle physics
  • Knowledge of supersymmetry (SUSY) concepts
  • Basic principles of quantum numbers in particle physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of baryon number non-conservation in the Standard Model
  • Explore the concept of R-parity in supersymmetric theories
  • Investigate potential dark matter candidates and their quantum numbers
  • Study the sphaleron process and its effects on baryon number conservation
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Particle physicists, cosmologists, and researchers interested in dark matter theories and the conservation laws governing baryons and leptons.

snorkack
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Baryon number is, despite all guesses and searches, known to be conserved in all interactions. It is also known to be significantly nonzero, though modest, for world.
Lepton number is, despite all guesses and searches, known to be conserved in all interactions. It is not known if world has any lepton number, and if so, what its sign and order of magnitude might be.
Is it possible that there are one or more conserved dark matter numbers? If so, is it possible that world has significantly nonzero of any of them?
 
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snorkack said:
Baryon number is, despite all guesses and searches, known to be conserved in all interactions.
Only at low energy. Even the SM has baryon number non-conservation via the sphaleron process.
snorkack said:
Is it possible that there are one or more conserved dark matter numbers?
It's generally expected that they have some (at least approximately) conserved quantum number, because something needs to make these particles long-living. If they are SUSY then it's R-parity, if they are something else it's something else.
 

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