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Dark matter continues to be one of the great mysteries that fascinates astrophysicists worldwide. While its existence is supported by widely accepted cosmological models, scientists’ understanding of the nature of this elusive matter relies mostly on conjecture and varying levels of speculation.
A new theory. A group of researchers recently introduced a new mathematical model that aims to shed light on the nature and origin of dark matter. According to this model, dark matter originated from the Big Bang as a result of high-energy, massless particles colliding. These particles subsequently acquired mass through their interaction.
“Dark matter started its life as near-massless relativistic particles, almost like light,” co-author Robert Caldwell said in a press release. “That’s totally antithetical to what dark matter is thought to be–it is cold lumps that give galaxies their mass. Our theory tries to explain how it went from being light to being lumps,” he added.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the study is that this theory can be tested using observations from the cosmic microwave background, a type of radiation that’s a remnant of the Big Bang.
Dark matter. Dark matter is a proposed explanation for a series of anomalies observed in the motion of large objects in the observable universe, such as galaxies and galactic clusters. Scientists have found discrepancies between the motions of these objects and the models used to describe them. Something seems to be exerting a pull on the matter.
Dark matter differs from conventional or baryonic matter in that it doesn’t interact with other known physical particles, except through gravity. This is why it remains elusive, despite its apparent gravitational influence. Estimates suggest that dark matter accounts for about 85% of the total matter in the universe.
Back to the Big Bang. The new theory proposes that, immediately following the Big Bang, fast-moving particles (similar to photons) dominated the universe. However, amid the initial chaos, these particles would have been pairing up.
Researchers propose that spin, a property of subatomic particles, acts like a magnet between these particles. Similar to objects with opposite magnetic poles, the opposing spins of the particles could facilitate fusion. The team suggests that as these particles cool over time, an “imbalance in the particles’ spins” leads to a significant reduction in energy. The result are cold and heavy particles that make up dark matter.
The “inspiration” for this model comes from a similar phenomenon observed in electrons, known as Cooper pairs. This allows for electrical conduction without resistance, which is known as superconductivity.
Testing the theory. Notably, the theory can be tested empirically. According to the model, this “non-relativistic, massive condensate” is predicted to decay more quickly than standard models suggest. As previously mentioned, the research team says that this prediction can be examined using the cosmic microwave background.
Image | NASA Hubble Space Telescope
Related | Einstein Was Right: Astronomers Discover a ‘Dark Matter Bridge’ Using His Predictions
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