Dark matter can make dark atoms, say theoretical astrophysicists

A group of theoretical astrophysicists have studied intimately a hypothetical type of dark matter that mixes to kind darkish atoms. They discovered that the existence of darkish atoms can drastically have an effect on the evolution of galaxies.

We do not perceive the overwhelming majority of matter within the universe. We name it dark matter, however that is about the perfect we have. To the perfect of our data dark matter consists of some new type of particle at the moment unknown to trendy physics. Regardless of the particle is, it doesn’t work together with mild and it doesn’t work together with regular matter besides via the gravitational force.

Given our lack of know-how of this mysterious substance, we have now loads of room to play with in our theoretical models. A few of these fashions counsel that dark matter is not made from a single species of particle that floods the universe. As a substitute it may be composed of various many alternative sorts of particles. There may also be new forces of nature, past the 4 that we’re aware of, that function solely among the many dark matter particles.

On this image the assorted elements of dark matter can acquire collectively to kind darkish atoms, and even molecules and extra advanced buildings. Most significantly, in these fashions the dark matter can clump collectively very tightly. A group of researchers used this truth to discover the observational penalties of those fashions of darkish atoms utilizing simulations of the evolution of galaxies.

They discovered that atomic dark matter can very quickly clump up, forting forming a “shadow disk” to associate with the disk of stars within the typical galaxy. From there the darkish atoms proceed to clump, forming the equal of darkish stars and darkish black holes. It could possibly even shortly sink into the core of the galaxy, quickly growing the density there.

All of those results of atomic dark matter can be invisible at cosmological scales. However they’d drastically have an effect on the evolution of stars throughout the galaxy. Stars kind from the collapse of fabric, and any gravitational influence can have an effect on the trajectory of star formation.

The researchers discovered variations in star formation charges and the inhabitants and distribution of stars in a galaxy that features darkish atoms versus a galaxy that solely features a single dark matter element. The researchers hope that these outcomes shall be helpful to additional pinning down this mysterious substance that dominates our universe.

The analysis is printed on the arXiv preprint server.