Eur. Phys. J. C (2009) 59: 557-588
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-008-0830-0

Review

Dark-matter candidates

Axions, neutralinos, gravitinos, and axinos

Max-Planck-Institut für Physik, Föhringer Ring 6, 80805, Munich, Germany

^* e-mail: steffen@mppmu.mpg.de

Received: 13 October 2008
Published online: 9 January 2009

Abstract

The existence of dark matter provides strong evidence for physics beyond the standard model. Extending the standard model with the Peccei–Quinn symmetry and/or supersymmetry, compelling dark-matter candidates appear. For the axion, the neutralino, the gravitino, and the axino, I review primordial production mechanisms, cosmological and astrophysical constraints, experimental searches, and prospects for experimental identification.