Axions, which explain time reversal symmetry in the strong interaction, are thought to behave like a universal field rather than individual particles. Telescope observations and laboratory experiments may soon detect these particles, potentially solving the mystery of dark matter.
Scientists from Durham University and Kings College London have presented a theoretical review in a new study strongly supporting the search for axion dark matter.
The identity of dark matter, which makes up 85% of the matter in the universe, is one of the big unanswered questions in particle physics.
Scientists know of its existence because of its gravitational pull effects on stars and galaxies but what kind of particle it is, still remains a mystery.
The researchers analyzed how axions can be described mathematically and presented how they relate to the fundamental symmetries of the Standard Model of particle physics.
The axion explains why the strong interaction – the force that binds together quarks in protons and neutrons — obeys time reversal symmetry. This means that, at the subatomic level, processes caused by the strong interaction would look the same if the direction of time was reversed.
Why the strong interaction obeys time reversal symmetry is still unknown. The axion is a popular solution to this mystery.
Axion Dark Matter as a Universal Field
Axion dark matter behaves more like a field covering the universe than like individual particles. In the early universe, the value of the axion field begins to oscillate back and forth. The energy stored in these oscillations is axion dark matter.
It is known that dark matter of any kind can only interact very weakly with light, or else it would have been seen by scientists already. Axion dark matter interacts with light very weakly, but by looking closely at telescope observations the researchers might be able to see signs of this interaction.
For example, a photon (a particle of light) traveling through a magnetic field would have a small probability of turning into an axion. This process would cause unusual features in telescope observations of galaxies shining through magnetic fields.
The full analysis of the study was published in Science Advances. A companion review paper – “Axion Dark Matter: How to see it?” by Yannis Semertzidis and SungWoo Youn — shows how the axion could be detected in the lab soon.
Study co-author, Dr. Francesca Chadha-Day, said: “It is a very exciting time to be an axion physicist. Nobody yet knows the identity of dark matter. By searching for different possibilities, such as the axion, we hope to one day solve this mystery.”
The researchers hope that this review will increase interest and understanding of axion physics within the broader community of physicists and scientists.
References:
“Axion dark matter: What it is and why now?” by Francesca Chadha-Day, John Ellis and David Marsh, 23 February 2022, Science Advances.
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj3618
“Axion dark matter: How to see it?” by Yannis K. Semertzidis and SungWoo Youn, 23 February 2022, Science Advances.
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm9928
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4 Comments
of 24 million stars catalogued in the milky way
5,000,000 are giants
19,000,000 are dwarfs
But 240,000,000,000 stars are known to exist in the milky way
So by extrapolation
50,000,000,000 are giants 2022
190,000,000,000 are dwarfs 2022
Now at some time in the past the milky way galaxy had
240,000,000,000 giant O B A stars of which ie burning blazing fire in the hearth flaming flickering coals
Now in the present moment 24th February 2022 12.40am
190,000,000,000 have gone supernovae ie slag heap in the hearth with tons of ash and coals burning in red embers dwarfs with plasma gas dust dirt and debris shells
Now the quantity of ash shells produced from the 190,000,000,000 supernovae in the milky way galaxy = dark matter at one million light years distance surrounding the milky way galaxy or if you want to call them there axions label them so
as my battery was low ill try again to print my comment
of 24 million stars catalogued in the milky way
5,000,000 are giants
19,000,000 are dwarfs
But 240,000,000,000 stars are known to exist in the milky way
So by extrapolation
50,000,000,000 are giants 2022
190,000,000,000 are dwarfs 2022
Now at some time in the past the milky way galaxy had
240,000,000,000 giant O B A stars of which ie burning blazing fire in the hearth flaming flickering coals
Now in the present moment 24th February 2022 12.40am
190,000,000,000 have gone supernovae ie slag heap in the hearth with tons of ash and coals burning in red embers dwarfs with plasma gas dust dirt debris shells
Now the quantity of ash shells produced from the 190,000,000,000 supernovae in the milky way galaxy = dark matter at one million light years distance surrounding the milky way galaxy or if you want to call them there axions label them so
I have always assumed that such matter has been accounted for when calculating the effect of dark matter. Or all these astrophysicist would have to be REALLY stupid, which I doubt.
I Donald Lynn Zitzer need Great Leaders to guide me in NANO I own all rights to all NANO GLOBAL.