Scientists hypothesize that a mysterious form of matter, dark matter, may have been created during a dark big bang – a second explosive event after the birth of the universe, reports phys.org.
Dark matter is an invisible, elusive substance that is thought to hold galaxies together and plays a crucial role in the formation of the first galaxies. Its existence is inferred from the gravitational effects on ordinary matter, as the particles do not interact with light, making direct observation impossible.
In one new study published in Physical Review D, researchers are investigating a groundbreaking theory proposed last year that suggests dark matter originated in another event: the dark big bang.
It is believed that the universe, including all matter, was created during the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago. The formation of matter began after a phase known as cosmic inflation, a rapid expansion of space in which vacuum energy was converted into a hot plasma of particles.
Although the origin of ordinary matter is relatively well understood, the source of dark matter remains one of the most enduring mysteries in physics.
The presence of dark matter has been detected indirectly through its gravitational effects on galaxies and clusters, and through its influence on the cosmic microwave background: the electromagnetic afterglow of the Big Bang.
However, last year a group of physicists suggested that dark matter may have formed later during a dark Big Bang. According to their theory, dark matter particles emerged from the decay of a quantum field that was in a metastable ‘false vacuum’ state.
The new study builds on this idea, refining the Dark Big Bang model and suggesting that its effects could be observable through gravitational waves produced during the event. These ripples in spacetime, created by cosmic phenomena, could provide a direct glimpse into this hidden chapter of the universe’s history.
Future developments in radio telescope technology may allow scientists to detect these gravitational waves, potentially confirming the Dark Big Bang theory. Researchers point to background gravity waves first observed last year as a possible link to this event.
If proven, this discovery would go far beyond explaining dark matter. It would provide deep insights into the earliest moments of the universe and shed light on the forces and events that shaped its evolution and structure.
The confirmation of the Dark Big Bang could revolutionize our understanding of cosmology and unlock secrets about the foundations of the cosmos.
