Magnetic Monopoles and Other Exotic Particles

Abstract

Because of the restriction from nucleosynthesis that the dark matter cannot be in the form of baryons, scientists have, in recent years, turned toward what are called “exotic particles.” They are referred to as exotic because we’re not sure they exist— in short, they exist only on paper. I’ll begin with what is called the magnetic monopole. There has been a tremendous amount of interest in it the last few years, not only because it would be a good candidate for dark matter, but also because scientists have predicted that it should exist, and so far—despite extensive searches—it hasn’t been found.