In particle physics, the crypton is a hypothetical superheavy particle, thought to exist in a hidden sector of string theory. It has been proposed as a candidate particle to explain the dark matter content of the universe. Cryptons arising in the hidden sector of a superstring-derived flipped SU(5) GUT model have been shown to be metastable with a lifetime exceeding the age of the universe. Their slow decays may provide a source for the Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECR).

References

• John Ellis, Jorge L. Lopez, D.V. Nanopoulos (1990). "Confinement of fractional charges yields integer-charged relics in string models". Physics Letters B 247 257–264.
• Karim Benakli, John Ellis, D.V. Nanopoulos (1999). "Natural Candidates for Superheavy Dark Matter in String and M Theory". Physical Review D 59 047301.
• John Ellis, V.E. Mayes, D.V. Nanopoulos (2004). "Flipped Cryptons and the Ultra-high Energy Cosmic Rays". Physical Review D 70 075015.
• John Ellis, V.E. Mayes, D.V. Nanopoulos (2006). "Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Ray Particle Spectra from Crypton Decays". Physical Review D 74 115003.