shapeon

A shapeon is a hypothetical elementary particle that is predicted to exist in some extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. The concept of a shapeon arises from theories that attempt to unify fundamental forces or explain phenomena not accounted for by the Standard Model, such as dark matter or the hierarchy problem.

The name "shapeon" suggests that this particle might be related to the geometric or topological properties of spacetime or fields. Unlike more commonly discussed hypothetical particles like axions or WIMPs, the specific properties and interactions of a shapeon are highly dependent on the particular theoretical framework in which it is proposed. These theories might involve extra spatial dimensions, modified gravitational interactions, or new fundamental symmetries.

Experimental searches for shapeons would likely involve looking for subtle deviations from Standard Model predictions in high-energy particle collisions or cosmological observations. The difficulty in detecting such particles stems from their potentially weak interactions with ordinary matter and the lack of precise theoretical predictions for their mass and other characteristics. As of now, there is no direct experimental evidence for the existence of shapeons, and they remain a theoretical possibility within the ongoing exploration of fundamental physics.