Particle Candidates for Dark Matter

Abstract

Some particle candidates for dark matter are reviewed in the light of recent experimental and theoretical developments. Models for massive neutrinos are discussed in the light of the recent atmospheric-neutrino data, and used to motivate comments on the plausibility of different solutions to the solar neutrino problem. Arguments are given that the lightest supersymmetric particle should be a neutralino χ, and accelerator and astrophysical constraints used to suggest that 50 GeV \lappeq m_χ\lappeq 600 GeV. Minimizing the fine tuning of the gauge hierarchy favours Ω_χh^2 \sim 0.1. The possibility of superheavy relic particles is mentioned, and candidates from string and $M$ theory are reviewed. Finally, the possibility of non-zero vacuum energy is discussed: its calculation is a great opportunity for a quantum theory of gravity, and the possibility that it is time dependent should not be forgotten.

invited talk presented at the Nobel Symposium, Haga Slott, Sweden, August 1998, 22 pages LaTeX, 12 figures