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Updated: Mar 12, 2026

Setting Limits on Supersymmetry Using Simplified Models
Published on: November 15, 2013
Lightest Visible-Sector Supersymmetric Particle is Likely to be Unstable
Bobby S Acharya1,2, Sebastian A R Ellis3, Gordon L Kane3
1Department of Physics, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
We argue, based on typical properties of known solutions of string or M theory, that the lightest supersymmetric particle of the visible sector is likely to be unstable. In other words, dark matter is probably not a particle with standard model quantum numbers, such as a weakly interacting massive particle. The argument is simple and based on the typical occurrence of (a) hidden sectors, (b) interactions between the standard model (visible) sector and these hidden sectors, and (c) the lack of an argument against massive neutral hidden sector particles being lighter than the lightest visible supersymmetric particle. These conclusions do not rely on arguments such as R-parity violation.
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