P11: Dark Matter and Dark Sectors (暗物質和暗域)

Modern cosmology and astrophysics reveal that 85% of the matter in the universe is comprised of dark matter, which seemingly interacts with ordinary matter only through gravitational forces. Despite compelling evidence for its existence, the properties of dark matter remain largely unknown. Considering that ordinary matter consists of a variety of particles engaging in complex interactions, it is natural to hypothesise that dark matter is not "alone". It could be part of the "dark sectors", a collection of hidden particles such as dark photons and dark Higgs bosons. These dark sector particles could mediate the feeble interactions between dark matter and ordinary matter, mediate self-interactions within dark matter, or even be dark matter themselves. I will explore theories related to dark matter and dark sectors, as well as the ongoing searches for them through terrestrial experiments and astrophysical observations.

根據現代宇宙學和天體物理學觀測，宇宙中85%的物質為暗物質。它們似乎只通過引力與普通物質相互作用。儘管有充分的證據證明暗物質的存在，但它們的本質依然是個未解之謎。鑒於普通物質由多種粒子組成，這些粒子間有複雜的相互作用，因此有理由假設暗物質並不「孤立」，它可能是「暗域」的一部分。除了暗物質以外，暗域還可能存在如暗光子、暗希格斯玻色子等不可見粒子。這些暗域粒子可以傳遞暗物質與普通物質間的相互作用，或是暗物質的自相互作用，亦可成為暗物質。我將探討暗物質和暗域的相關理論，並介紹人們如何通過地面實驗和天體觀測對它們進行不懈搜索。

Speaker: Prof. Yiming ZHONG
Target Audience: Form 4 - 6
Duration: 1 hour
Medium of Language: English or Mandarin

Registration: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/csci/local-school-outreach/popular-science-talks