The fundamental concept is easy. There must be dark matter throughout our solar system if dark matter is throughout the universe. It must impact things such as the planetary orbits in ways we can measure. The issue is that our observations of planetary motions arent exact enough to identify the impacts of dark matter. Not even Mercury, the world that would be most impacted by concentrations of dark matter near the Sun, has any measured discrepancy. So this brand-new work proposes a more exact experiment utilizing atomic clocks.
According to theory, considering that dark matter engages with regular matter gravitationally, the dark matter in our solar system ought to be most concentrated near the Sun, so that is where it would have the best impact. The group proposes putting an atomic clock close to the Sun and having it send out a signal to another atomic clock even more away. By sending an extremely tuned signal between the 2, we could measure the gravitational effect in the area, and potentially figure out the density of dark matter near the Sun.
Dark matter continues to vex astronomers around the world. We see its results in the clustering of galaxies and the gravitational lensing of light within galaxies, and it appears to make up about 80% of the matter in the universe, however we still havent discovered it on Earth.
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If dark matter is throughout the universe, then there must be dark matter throughout our solar system. The problem is that our observations of planetary movements arent exact adequate to spot the results of dark matter. According to theory, since dark matter engages with routine matter gravitationally, the dark matter in our solar system need to be most focused near the Sun, so that is where it would have the greatest result. By sending a highly tuned signal between the two, we could determine the gravitational result in the area, and potentially identify the density of dark matter near the Sun.
According to supersymmetry, dark-matter particles referred to as neutralinos (which are typically called WIMPs) obliterate each other, developing a waterfall of particles and radiation that consists of medium-energy gamma rays. The LAT may see the gamma rays associated with their demise if neutralinos exist. Credit: Sky & & Telescope/ Gregg Dinderman.
The experiment could likewise evaluate certain dark matter models that argue dark matter is made up of ultralight particles. If real, these particles would engage with electrons in subtle ways, triggering their efficient mass and interaction strength to vary slightly. This would in turn cause signals from the atomic clocks to have tiny fluctuations, which could also be detectable.
Whats fascinating about this idea is that such an experiment could be done with our existing engineering capabilities. And the Parker Solar Probe is currently orbiting the Sun within Mercurys orbit since 2018, and will soon move even closer to the Sun.
It might be that the mystery of dark matter wont be fixed whenever quickly. Far a lot of experiments have turned up null, and we are still not near understanding the information of its nature. However new experiments such as this one program we have more concepts to explore, and the more we find out the closer we will be to either showing dark matter or proving an alternative theory.
Referral: Tsai, Yu-Dai, Joshua Eby, and Marianna S. Safronova. “Direct detection of ultralight dark matter bound to the Sun with space quantum sensors.” Nature Astronomy (2022 ): 1-9.
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The experiment might likewise test particular dark matter designs that argue dark matter is composed of ultralight particles.