The blessing and the curse of the axion’s rise in US particle physics

Since the Large Hadron Collider turned up nothing in its seek for supersymmetry, physicists have turned their consideration to the axion, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a self-described superfan of this hypothetical particle

By Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

REGULAR readers of this column know that on the subject of darkish matter candidates, I’m one thing of an axion superfan. This hypothetical particle was theorised within the Seventies as a part of an answer to an issue within the commonplace mannequin of particle physics that’s nonetheless excellent. For the previous eight years, the axion has been the first focus of my analysis.

Obviously, I really feel I’ve good motive for this. First, the axion has a fantastic title, with attention-grabbing origins that return to Greek Orthodox Church liturgy. Second, this proposed particle is doubly compelling as a result of, if it …