May 6, 2024

Can we detect dark photons using radio telescopes? Worth a shot, say astronomers

Thanks to the groups work, astronomers may one day be able to utilize radio telescopes to directly spot dark photons. These results supply brand-new avenues for research study into dark matter, most especially the hunt for ultra-light dark photons.

Thankfully, luck played a role. Scientist Haipeng A discovered at the FAST site that the telescope could observe radio waves from various directions because the receiver was suspended above the dish and could be moved. An unique concept derived from this.

The research group established a scheme based on their prior theoretical work converting dark photons into photons in the solar corona. The astronomers propose using radio telescopes, like the huge 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope (FAST), to detect the electro-magnetic signals caused by the dished telescopes through complimentary electrons.

For quite a while, scientists have been unable to straight confirm the existence of dark matter, a mystical substance thought to permeate the universes. A brand-new research study by researchers at Tsinghua University, the Purple Mountain Observatory and Peking University recommends development may be on the horizon.

Once undetectable, the look for dark matter simply got a lift thanks to radio telescopes. (Credit: Pixabay).

The scientists found that the FAST telescopes level of sensitivity had already exceeded the restraint enforced by the cosmic microwave background, recommending that it had the prospective to identify dark matter if it included dark photons within a particular mass variety.

Motivated by their success, An and his team are preparing to look for proof of dark photon dark matter in information from the LOFAR and MeerKAT telescopes. Axion dark matter is another prospect for ultra-light dark matter, and they wish to utilize their novel method to discover it.

According to the groups theoretical predictions, radio telescopes with a movable receiver can get electromagnetic signals from numerous locations. Radio telescopes sensitivity to dark photon-induced signals might be improved by comparing the collected signals with the circulations forecasted by theory.

An and his coworkers examined observation data acquired from the FAST radio telescope in Guizhou, China, to confirm the efficacy of their proposed approach. They utilized this analysis to set tight limits on the model for frequencies in between 1 and 1.5 GHz.

In dark matter, the still hypothetical dark photons are analogous to their luminescent counterparts in that they also carry a force. Much like photons bring electromagnetism in common matter, dark photons are believed to play an important function in the universes.

In the journal Physical Review Letters, the authors present a new method for straight discovering dark matter utilizing radio telescopes, concentrating on examining dark photons as a prime candidate for dark matter.

A major obstacle developed. Existing radio telescope dish reflectors are parabolic in shape, with the receiver situated at the centerpiece. But because dark matter is not relativistic, the dish reflector needs to round with the receiver in the middle, which provided some difficulties.

The scientists discovered dark photon dark matter might possibly produce electrical signals on dipole antennas and that interferometry technology might even more improve this level of sensitivity. According to their calculations, the scientists likewise identified the level of sensitivity of the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) and future SKA telescopes, which revealed pledge in identifying dark photon dark matter.

Scientist assumed that, despite the fact that dark photon-induced electromagnetic waves wouldnt focus at the receiver, the electro-magnetic field may form a circulation on top of the dish that could be specifically computed.

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Existing radio telescope dish reflectors are parabolic in shape, with the receiver located at the focal point. Since dark matter is not relativistic, the dish reflector needs to round with the receiver in the middle, which provided some difficulties.

Luck played a function. Scientist Haipeng A found at the FAST website that the telescope might observe radio waves from various instructions due to the fact that the receiver was suspended above the meal and could be moved. An unique idea sprang from this.