How many hypothetical particles do we need

In summary, the standard model, a theory developed by physicists, explains how particles hold the universe together and includes 6 leptons, 6 quarks, and force carrier particles. However, it does not address gravity or the dark matter problem. Current gravitational theories do not require a graviton, but some unknown particles, such as WIMPs and MACHOs, may be needed to solve these open problems.
  • #1
wolram
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How many as yet undiscovered particles do we need to make the standard model work?
 
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  • #2
Define "work".
 
  • #3
Physicists have developed a theory called The standard model to explain how particles holds the universe together.
The standard model basically includes 6 leptons,6 quarks,Force carrier particles.
The quarks are classified as up,down,top,bottom,charm,strange.
The leptons are classified as electron,muon,tau,electron neutrino,muon neutrino,tau neutrino.
The force carriers include photons,gluons,W boson,Z boson.
 
  • #6
wolram said:
The graviton is needed for our theories of gravity
Some as yet unknown particle is needed to make dark matter work.
etc.

graviton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graviton
Axion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axion
etc.
But the standard model does not deal with gravity, nor does it deal with a solution to the dark matter problem. Since the are open problems, we have no idea what is required.

Also, current gravitational theories do not require a graviton. Quantisations of them do.
 
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