Elektronts

Elektronts are hypothetical elementary fermions proposed in speculative physics as components of an extended or hidden electroweak sector. The term is used in theoretical discussions to explore how new particles might interact with ordinary matter and light without conflicting with established experiments.

In proposed models, elektronts are spin-1/2 particles that may carry electric charge—either a unit charge similar to electrons or a smaller millicharge. Some frameworks posit neutral elektronts that couple primarily to a new gauge boson and to gravity, effectively mediating a fifth force within a dark sector. Theoretical constructions vary on their masses, ranging from sub-electronvolt to multi-TeV scales, and on whether they mix with standard model leptons through small couplings.

The motivation for introducing elektronts includes providing dark matter candidates with novel self-interactions, offering mechanisms to bridge the visible and hidden sectors, or addressing anomalies in astrophysical observations. In certain scenarios, elektronts could have been produced in the early universe and either remained stable or decayed, influencing cosmic evolution and structure formation.

Experimental status remains inconclusive: there are no confirmed detections of elektronts. Collider searches, precision electromagnetic tests, and cosmological observations place bounds on allowed masses and couplings. Charged elektronts face restrictive bounds from collider experiments and stellar cooling arguments, while millicharged variants must satisfy limits from precision electromagnetism tests and cosmology. Ongoing experimental efforts aim to probe small couplings and secluded regions of parameter space.

See also: electrons, leptons, dark matter, hidden sectors.