Teorinius

Teorinius is a hypothetical elementary particle proposed in theoretical physics as a mediator of a possible new interaction beyond the Standard Model. The term is coined in discussions of extensions to known particle physics and appears in both formal model-building and science-fiction contexts where alternative force carriers are envisioned.

In speculative frameworks, teorinius is treated as a neutral spin-0 boson with no color charge. Its mass is a free parameter, with models ranging from ultralight (sub-eV) to heavy (GeV–TeV) scales. It couples to Standard Model fields through Yukawa-like interactions, with a coupling strength that may be weaker than electromagnetic interactions. Depending on its mass, the theory predicts either a very short-range force or a long-range, albeit feeble, interaction. The particle could decay into electron-positron pairs, photons, or other light fermions, with branching ratios dictated by the specific model.

Experimental status is unsettled. No conclusive evidence for a teorinius has been observed. Searches in collider experiments, fixed-target setups, meson decays, and precision measurements have constrained its possible mass and couplings, but limits are strongly model-dependent. Teorinius remains a common placeholder in discussions of new forces and in science fiction as a generic novel mediator.