Astrophysicists suspect that dark matter may consist of special ultralight particles, and there is a chance of detecting them during observations of supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies. Dark matter is still so elusive that there is heated debate among scientists about whether it is matter at all (MOND hypothesis). Fundamentally, physicists still proceed from the fact that this must be some kind of matter, because in space something about it is definitely recognized by indirect signs: the matter has a very large mass and, accordingly, gravity.
When scientists estimated the force required to gather hundreds of billions of stars into a single galactic structure and continue to hold it together for billions of years, they realized it was a mostly unknown force. Almost no galaxy can withstand the mutual attraction of all visible objects. The parts of galaxies accessible to our optics are tiny pearls inside huge shells with hidden mass.
One of the interesting versions says that, despite its enormous total mass, this substance consists of particles at least billions of times lighter than electrons, the so-called ultralight (or superlight) bosons. According to calculations, these particles will interact extremely weakly with ordinary ones (if you do not take into account gravitational interaction, of course), so they are quite suitable for the role of invisible and elusive.
However, such ultralight dark matter could theoretically be observed, as far as we understand, near some particularly massive clusters of matter. For example, near a black hole, especially if it is not alone but in close interaction with another black hole or a star. Their connection gives rise to a phenomenon called “gravitational waves”: they propagate through the fabric of space-time like circles on water.
But if they are surrounded by an invisible dense cloud of ultralight bosons, then their own gravity will interfere with the process and change the nature of the propagation of gravitational waves. Astrophysicists expect to discover it this way.
As written Physical Examination Letters A research team led by Professor Francisco Duke from the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Germany) has studied the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies and those in the process of absorbing gravitational waves from a star or black hole. mass.
Astrophysicists hope to observe how they shake the fabric of space and perhaps reveal the existence of dark matter particles with the help of the new LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) detector. It is planned to be launched into space in 2034.
Source: Port Altele
