The spelling of "weakly interacting massive particle" may seem daunting, but breaking it down with IPA phonetic transcription makes it more manageable. The first word, "weakly," is pronounced as /wiːkli/, with the long /iː/ sound in the first syllable. "Interacting" is pronounced as /ɪntərˈæktɪŋ/, with the stress on the second syllable and the schwa sound in the second syllable. "Massive" is pronounced as /ˈmæsɪv/, with the stress on the first syllable and the short /æ/ sound. "Particle" is pronounced as /ˈpɑːtɪkəl/, with the stress on the first syllable and the schwa sound in the second syllable.
A weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) is a term that defines a hypothetical particle that is part of the so-called "dark matter" in the universe. Dark matter has been proposed as a type of matter that does not interact with light or other electromagnetic radiation, hence its "dark" nature. It is estimated that dark matter constitutes around 85% of the total matter in the universe.
WIMPs are characterized by their low interaction strength with normal matter, as well as their substantial mass. The "weakly interacting" aspect of their definition refers to their feeble interaction with the four fundamental forces of nature, particularly with weak nuclear forces. This is in contrast to other types of particles, such as photons or electrons, which interact strongly with electromagnetic forces.
The "massive" aspect of WIMPs denotes that they possess significant mass, although the exact mass range of WIMPs is still uncertain. It is generally believed that these particles are heavy and much more massive than conventional particles, such as neutrinos. Their mass is estimated to range from a few times the mass of a proton to potentially hundreds of times greater.
While several experimental efforts have been made to detect WIMPs, their existence and properties remain unconfirmed. However, the concept of WIMPs plays a vital role in theories of particle physics and cosmology, as they provide a potential explanation for the observed effects of dark matter.