As traditional dark matter candidates—such as weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), axions, and primordial black holes—continue to elude detection, theorists are exploring more exotic possibilities. Guanming Liang and Robert Caldwell of Dartmouth College have proposed a new dark matter model inspired by the physics of superconductivity [1].
Their proposal draws an analogy to the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory of superconductivity, which describes how electrons form Cooper pairs. In the new model, dark matter arises from interacting fermions that form a condensate, much like superconducting pairs.
These fermions are described within the Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model, a low-energy approximation of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the theory governing strong interactions. According to the researchers, in the early Universe these fermions behaved like radiation and reached thermal equilibrium with photons. As the Universe cooled below a critical temperature, the fermions underwent a phase transition, pairing up and forming a massive condensate.
This model aligns well with the cold dark matter framework of standard cosmology. Additionally, it predicts a chiral asymmetry—an imbalance between left- and right-handed fermions—which could help explain the observed matter–antimatter asymmetry of the Universe.
Most notably, the model features a time-dependent equation of state. This would result in distinctive, potentially observable signatures in the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Liang and Caldwell suggest that upcoming CMB experiments, such as those from the Simons Observatory and Stage 4 CMB telescopes, could be precise enough to test their predictions.
Reference
[1] G. Liang and R. R. Caldwell, Cold dark matter based on an analogy with superconductivity, Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 191004 (2025).
Subject Areas:
Particles and Fields | Astrophysics | Cosmology
Source: Physics Magazine, May 14, 2025
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Superconductivity Inspires New Dark Matter Contender
As traditional dark matter candidates—such as weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), axions, and primordial black holes—continue to elude detection, theorists are exploring more exotic possibilities. Guanming Liang and Robert Caldwell of Dartmouth College have proposed a new dark matter model inspired by the physics of superconductivity.
Their proposal draws an analogy to the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory of superconductivity, which describes how electrons form Cooper pairs. In the new model, dark matter arises from interacting fermions that form a condensate, much like superconducting pairs.
These fermions are described within the Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model, a low-energy approximation of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the theory governing strong interactions. According to the researchers, in the early Universe these fermions behaved like radiation and reached thermal equilibrium with photons. As the Universe cooled below a critical temperature, the fermions underwent a phase transition, pairing up and forming a massive condensate.
This model aligns well with the cold dark matter framework of standard cosmology. Additionally, it predicts a chiral asymmetry—an imbalance between left- and right-handed fermions—which could help explain the observed matter–antimatter asymmetry of the Universe.
Most notably, the model features a time-dependent equation of state. This would result in distinctive, potentially observable signatures in the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Liang and Caldwell suggest that upcoming CMB experiments, such as those from the Simons Observatory and Stage 4 CMB telescopes, could be precise enough to test their predictions.
References
G. Liang and R. R. Caldwell, “Cold dark matter based on an analogy with superconductivity,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 191004 (2025).
By Matteo Rini
Source: Physics Magazine, May 14, 2025
