Photons and charged particles and dark matter

[SarcasticSully]

Main Question or Discussion Point

Are photons capable of interacting with particles with no charge. And if not, is it possible that that's the reason dark matter has so far eluded detection: because it has no charge?

 

[Drakkith]

No, they are not capable of interacting with elementary particles of no charge. Note that a neutron is a composite particle composed of elementary particles with charge, so even though it is neutral it can still interact with EM radiation.

And yes, that is the reason why dark matter cannot be seen. Light does not interact with it at all.

 

[Bill_K]

Are photons capable of interacting with particles with no charge. And if not, is it possible that that's the reason dark matter has so far eluded detection: because it has no charge?

That is only part of the reason. Note that even uncharged particles can interact with photons if they do so indirectly. For example the Higgs boson can decay into two photons even though it is an uncharged elementary particle. See here.