How many hypothetical particles do we need

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the need for hypothetical particles to enhance the standard model of particle physics, which currently includes six leptons, six quarks, and several force carrier particles. Key points include the necessity of a graviton for gravity theories and an unknown particle to address dark matter. The standard model does not account for gravity or dark matter, leaving significant gaps in our understanding. Current gravitational theories do not mandate a graviton, although quantized versions do. The conversation highlights the ongoing challenges in particle physics and the need for further discoveries.
wolram
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How many as yet undiscovered particles do we need to make the standard model work?
 
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Define "work".
 
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.
 
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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