Question
A 1998 paper by Kolb et al. proposed a high-energy form of these particles with the suffix “zilla” whose abstract ends with the claim that “size does matter.” For 10 points each:
[10h] Name these particles that have interaction cross-sections of less than 10-to-the-negative-5 inverse-square GeV. Supersymmetric extensions readily predict the existence of these particles, called their namesake “miracle.”
ANSWER: WIMPs [or weakly interacting massive particles; accept WIMPzillas; prompt on dark matter]
[10m] WIMPs are thought to exist in these structures described in simulations by the NFW profile. Simulations of these structures that surround galaxies form “cuspy” density profiles instead of “cores.”
ANSWER: dark matter halos
[10e] Attempts at indirect detection of WIMPs by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer search for these particles. These extrasolar particles propagate near the speed of light and consist primarily of protons and alpha nuclei.
ANSWER: cosmic rays
<Sheffield A, Other Science>
Summary
| California | 2025-02-01 | Y | 3 | 13.33 | 67% | 67% | 0% |
| Great Lakes | 2025-02-01 | Y | 4 | 7.50 | 25% | 25% | 25% |
| Lower Mid-Atlantic | 2025-02-01 | Y | 3 | 6.67 | 33% | 33% | 0% |
| Midwest | 2025-02-01 | Y | 6 | 18.33 | 83% | 83% | 17% |
| North | 2025-02-01 | Y | 2 | 10.00 | 50% | 50% | 0% |
| Overflow | 2025-02-01 | Y | 4 | 17.50 | 75% | 25% | 75% |
| Pacific Northwest | 2025-02-01 | Y | 2 | 10.00 | 50% | 50% | 0% |
| South Central | 2025-02-01 | Y | 2 | 15.00 | 100% | 50% | 0% |
| Southeast | 2025-02-01 | Y | 3 | 3.33 | 33% | 0% | 0% |
| UK | 2025-02-01 | Y | 10 | 13.00 | 60% | 30% | 40% |
| Upper Mid-Atlantic | 2025-02-01 | Y | 6 | 15.00 | 83% | 50% | 17% |
| Upstate NY | 2025-02-01 | Y | 1 | 10.00 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
Data
| Duke | William & Mary | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Virginia Tech A | South Carolina | 0 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| Wake Forest | Virginia A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |