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Dark energy and dark matter articles from across Nature Portfolio

Dark energy and dark matter refers to the unseen energy and matter components of the Universe. Dark matter is invisible, non-baryonic matter hypothesized to explain phenomena including gravitational lensing and galactic rotation curves. Dark energy is thought to permeate the Universe and, despite its low energy-density, is thought to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the Universe.

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Dark matter

Invisible dark matter makes up most of the universe – but we can only detect it from its gravitational effects

Galaxies in our universe seem to be achieving an impossible feat. They are rotating with such speed that the gravity generated by their observable matter could not possibly hold them together; they should have torn themselves apart long ago. The same is true of galaxies in clusters, which leads scientists to believe that something we cannot see is at work. They think something we have yet to detect directly is giving these galaxies extra mass, generating the extra gravity they need to stay intact. This strange and unknown matter was called “dark matter” since it is not visible.

Unlike normal matter, dark matter does not interact with the electromagnetic force. This means it does not absorb, reflect or emit light, making it extremely hard to spot. In fact, researchers have been able to infer the existence of dark matter only from the gravitational effect it seems to have on visible matter. Dark matter seems to outweigh visible matter roughly six to one, making up about 27% of the universe. Here's a sobering fact: The matter we know and that makes up all stars and galaxies only accounts for 5% of the content of the universe! But what is dark matter? One idea is that it could contain "supersymmetric particles" – hypothesized particles that are partners to those already known in the Standard Model . Experiments at the Large Hadron Collider  (LHC) may provide more direct clues about dark matter.

Many theories say the dark matter particles would be light enough to be produced at the LHC. If they were created at the LHC, they would escape through the detectors unnoticed. However, they would carry away energy and momentum, so physicists could infer their existence from the amount of energy and momentum “missing” after a collision. Dark matter candidates arise frequently in theories that suggest physics beyond the Standard Model, such as supersymmetry and extra dimensions. One theory suggests the existence of a “Hidden Valley”, a parallel world made of dark matter having very little in common with matter we know. If one of these theories proved to be true, it could help scientists gain a better understanding of the composition of our universe and, in particular, how galaxies hold together.

Dark energy

Dark energy makes up approximately 68% of the universe and appears to be associated with the vacuum in space. It is distributed evenly throughout the universe, not only in space but also in time – in other words, its effect is not diluted as the universe expands. The even distribution means that dark energy does not have any local gravitational effects, but rather a global effect on the universe as a whole. This leads to a repulsive force, which tends to accelerate the expansion of the universe. The rate of expansion and its acceleration can be measured by observations based on the Hubble law. These measurements, together with other scientific data, have confirmed the existence of dark energy and provide an estimate of just how much of this mysterious substance exists.

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GALILEO: Scientists propose a new method to search for light dark matter

by Tejasri Gururaj , Phys.org

New research in Physical Review Letters ( PRL ) has proposed a novel method to detect light dark matter candidates using laser interferometry to measure the oscillatory electric fields generated by these candidates.

Dark matter is one of the most pressing challenges in modern physics, with dark matter particles being elusive and hard to detect. This has prompted scientists to come up with new and innovative ways to look for these particles.

There are several candidates for dark matter particles, such as WIMPs, light dark matter particles (axions), and the hypothetical gravitino. Light dark matter, including bosonic particles like the QCD (quantum chromo dynamics) axion , has become a point of interest in recent years.

These particles typically have suppressed interactions with the standard model , making them challenging to detect. However, knowing their characteristics, including their wave-like behavior and coherent nature at galactic scales, helps to design more efficient experiments.

In the new PRL study , researchers from the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University have proposed Galactic Axion Laser Interferometer Leveraging Electro-Optics or GALILEO, a new approach to detect both axion and dark photon dark matter over a wide mass range.

Lead researcher Reza Ebadi, a graduate student at the Quantum Technology Center (QTC) at the University of Maryland, spoke to Phys.org about the research and their motivation for developing this new approach, "Although the standard model provides successful explanations of phenomena ranging from sub-nuclear distances to the size of the universe, it is not a complete explanation of nature."

"It fails to account for cosmological observations from which the existence of dark matter is inferred. We aspire to gain insight into the physical theories operating on galactic scales using small-scale lab experiments."

Axions and axionlike particles

Axions and axionlike particles were initially proposed to solve problems in particle physics, such as the strong charge-parity (CP) problem. This problem arises from the observation that the strong force doesn't seem to exhibit a particular type of symmetry violation, called CP violation, as much as theory predicts it should.

This theoretical framework naturally gives rise to axionlike particles, which share similar properties to axions, with both being bosons.

Axions and axionlike particles are predicted to have very low masses, typically ranging from microelectronvolts to millielectronvolts. This makes them suitable candidates for light dark matter, as they can exhibit wave-like behavior at galactic scales.

In addition to their low mass, axions and axionlike particles interact very weakly with ordinary matter, making them difficult to detect using conventional means.

These are some reasons the researchers have chosen to detect these particles in their experimental setup. However, the method hinges on oscillatory electric fields produced by these particles.

In regions with significant dark matter density, axions and ALPs can undergo coherent oscillations. These coherent oscillations can give rise to detectable signals, such as oscillatory electric fields, which the proposed GALILEO experiment aims to measure.

"Light dark matter candidates behave as waves in the solar neighborhood. Such dark matter waves are predicted to induce very weak oscillating electric fields with magnetic fields because of their minuscule interactions with electromagnetism."

"We focused on the detection of the electric field rather than the magnetic field, which is the target signal in most current and proposed experiments," explained Ebadi.

Light dark matter-induced electric fields can be detected using electro-optical materials, where the external electric field modifies the material's properties, such as refractive index.

GALILEO utilizes an asymmetric Michelson interferometer, a device that can measure the changes in refractive index. One arm of the interferometer contains the electro-optical material.

When a probe laser beam is split and sent through the two arms of the interferometer, the arm containing the electro-optical material introduces a variable refractive index. This change in refractive index affects the phase of the laser beam, resulting in an oscillating signal when the beams are merged back together.

By measuring the differential phase velocity between the two arms of the interferometer, GALILEO can detect the frequency of oscillation induced by light dark matter. This oscillatory signal serves as the signature of the presence of dark matter particles.

The sensitivity of the method can be increased by incorporating Fabry-Perot cavities (which increase the length of the interferometer arm, allowing for greater precision) and taking repeated independent measurements.

Laser interferometry and implementing GALILEO

The research relies on precision measurements by laser interferometry.

Ebadi explained, "A prime example of how laser interferometers can be used for precision measurements is LIGO, the ground-based gravitational wave detector."

"Our proposal uses similar technological advancements as LIGO, such as Fabry-Perot cavities or squeezed light to suppress the quantum noise limit. However, unlike LIGO, the proposed GALILEO interferometer is a tabletop-scale device."

Even though the work is theoretical, the researchers already have plans to implement the experimental program step-by-step.

Importantly, they want to determine the technical parameters required for an optimized experimental setup, which they plan to use for conducting scientific experiments to search for light dark matter.

Additionally, Ebadi highlights the importance of operating high-finesse Fabry-Perot cavities alongside electro-optical material within the cavity, as well as characterizing the noise budget and setup systematics, which are crucial aspects of the experimental process.

"GALILEO has the potential to be a significant component of the bigger mission of exploring the vast theoretically viable space of dark matter candidates ," concluded Ebadi.

Journal information: Physical Review Letters

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New research suggests that our universe has no dark matter

The current theoretical model for the composition of the universe is that it's made of 'normal matter,' 'dark energy' and 'dark matter.' A new uOttawa study challenges this.

A University of Ottawa study published today challenges the current model of the universe by showing that, in fact, it has no room for dark matter.

In cosmology, the term "dark matter" describes all that appears not to interact with light or the electromagnetic field, or that can only be explained through gravitational force. We can't see it, nor do we know what it's made of, but it helps us understand how galaxies, planets and stars behave.

Rajendra Gupta, a physics professor at the Faculty of Science, used a combination of the covarying coupling constants (CCC) and "tired light" (TL) theories (the CCC+TL model) to reach this conclusion. This model combines two ideas -- about how the forces of nature decrease over cosmic time and about light losing energy when it travels a long distance. It's been tested and has been shown to match up with several observations, such as about how galaxies are spread out and how light from the early universe has evolved.

This discovery challenges the prevailing understanding of the universe, which suggests that roughly 27% of it is composed of dark matter and less than 5% of ordinary matter, remaining being the dark energy.

Challenging the need for dark matter in the universe

"The study's findings confirm that our previous work ("JWST early Universe observations and ΛCDM cosmology") about the age of the universe being 26.7billionyears has allowed us to discover that the universe does not require dark matter to exist," explains Gupta. "In standard cosmology, the accelerated expansion of the universe is said to be caused by dark energy but is in fact due to the weakening forces of nature as it expands, not due to dark energy."

"Redshifts" refer to when light is shifted toward the red part of the spectrum. The researcher analyzed data from recent papers on the distribution of galaxies at low redshifts and the angular size of the sound horizon in the literature at high redshift.

"There are several papers that question the existence of dark matter, but mine is the first one, to my knowledge, that eliminates its cosmological existence while being consistent with key cosmological observations that we have had time to confirm," says Gupta.

By challenging the need for dark matter in the universe and providing evidence for a new cosmological model, this study opens up new avenues for exploring the fundamental properties of the universe.

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Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Ottawa . Original written by Bernard Rizk. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Rajendra P. Gupta. Testing CCC+TL Cosmology with Observed Baryon Acoustic Oscillation Features . The Astrophysical Journal , 2024; 964 (1): 55 DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad1bc6

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New Paper Claims Dark Matter Doesn't Exist at All

A controversial new paper suggests the universe is twice as old as current models suggest and that dark matter — the mysterious stuff believed by an overwhelming majority of physicists to make up much of the universe — doesn't actually exist.

It's generally believed that dark matter doesn't interact with light or the electromagnetic field in any way, but can exert gravitational force. It's a conundrum that's plagued astrophysicists for decades — it can't be directly observed, yet is believed to make up 26 percent of the universe.

University of Ottawa physics professor Rajendra Gupta, the sole author of a new paper published in the Astrophysical Journal , made headlines last year after suggesting the universe was 26.7 billion years old, twice as old as its generally accepted age.

In his latest paper, Gupta builds on his theory, challenging the need for dark matter.

"The study's findings confirm that our previous work about the age of the universe being 26.7 billion years has allowed us to discover that the Universe does not require dark matter to exist," said Gupta in a statement.

Needless to say, it's a controversial theory that directly flies in the face of stuff that's more or less universally agreed upon by experts.

Prevailing theories suggest the accelerating expansion of the universe is tied to a positive cosmological constant. This constant has often been used to explain the existence of dark energy, the dominant component of the universe, making up an estimated 68 percent of its total energy.

While dark matter makes up most of the mass of galaxies and determines how they're organized, dark energy drives the accelerated expansion of the universe.

But that's not how Gupta sees it. To back up his revised model, the professor borrowed from previous research of Swiss physicist Fritz Zwicky, who suggested in the late 1920s that red light emanating from distant celestial objects may be the result of energy being lost, a theory that became known as the "tired light" hypothesis.

By combining this theory with a new "covarying coupling constant," which, unlike the prevailing cosmological constant, suggests that the forces of nature decline over time, Gupta argues that dark matter doesn't have to be part of the equation at all.

"In standard cosmology, dark energy causes the accelerated expansion of the universe," Gupta explained. "However, it is due to the weakening forces of nature as it expands, not dark energy."

Needless to say, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence — so expect pushback from Gupta's peers.

"There are several papers that question the existence of dark matter, but mine is the first one, to my knowledge, that eliminates its cosmological existence while being consistent with key cosmological observations that we have had time to confirm," said Gupta in the statement.

More on dark matter: Scientists Befuddled by Impossible Galaxy Seen by James Webb

The post New Paper Claims Dark Matter Doesn't Exist at All appeared first on Futurism .

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Astrophysics > Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

Title: structure formation in various dynamical dark energy scenarios.

Abstract: This research investigates the impact of the nature of Dark Energy (DE) on structure formation, focusing on the matter power spectrum and the Integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect (ISW). By analyzing the matter power spectrum at redshifts $z = 0$ and $z = 5$, as well as the ISW effect on the scale of $\ell = 10-100$, the study provides valuable insights into the influence of DE equations of state (EoS) on structure formation. The findings reveal that dynamical DE models exhibit a stronger matter power spectrum compared to constant DE models, with the JBP model demonstrating the highest amplitude and the CPL model the weakest. Additionally, the study delves into the ISW effect, highlighting the time evolution of the ISW source term $\mathcal{F}(a)$ and its derivative $d\mathcal{F}(a)/da$, and demonstrating that models with constant DE EoS exhibit a stronger amplitude of $\mathcal{F}(a)$ overall, while dynamical models such as CPL exhibit the highest amplitude among the dynamical models, whereas JBP has the lowest. The study also explores the ISW auto-correlation power spectrum and the ISW cross-correlation power spectrum, revealing that dynamical DE models dominate over those with constant DE EoS across various surveys. Moreover, it emphasizes the potential of studying the non-linear matter power spectrum and incorporating datasets from the small scales to further elucidate the dynamical nature of dark energy. This comprehensive analysis underscores the significance of both the matter power spectrum and the ISW signal in discerning the nature of dark energy, paving the way for future research to explore the matter power spectrum at higher redshifts and in the non-linear regime, providing deeper insights into the dynamical nature of dark energy.

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