In their continuing hunt for information on the nature of dark matter, a
group of researchers from around the world, led by specialists from the
University of Adelaide, have discovered further hints.
The Elder Professor of Physics at the University of Adelaide, Professor
Anthony Thomas, stated, "Dark matter makes up 84% of the matter in the
universe but we know very little about it."
"The gravitational interactions of dark matter have clearly demonstrated
its existence, but despite the greatest efforts of physicists worldwide, its
exact nature remains elusive."
"The dark photon, a hypothetical massive particle that might act as a
bridge between the dark sector of particles and ordinary matter, may hold
the key to unlocking this mystery."
There are five times as much dark matter as normal matter, which is what
makes up our physical universe and ourselves. normal matter is far less
common than dark matter. Physicists worldwide face one of their biggest
challenges: learning more about dark matter.
A hypothesized hidden sector particle known as the "dark photon" is
suggested to be related to dark matter and function as a force carrier akin
to the photon in electromagnetism. One strategy being used by scientists
like Professor Thomas, Professor Martin White, Dr. Xuangong Wang, and
Nicholas Hunt-Smith—all of whom are affiliated with the Australian Research
Council's (ARC) Center of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics—to
obtain additional insights into this elusive yet crucial material is testing
current theories regarding dark matter.
Professor Thomas commented, "In our most recent work, we investigate the
possible impacts that a dark photon could have on the entire set of
experimental results from the deep inelastic scattering process."
The team's results, which were published in the
Journal of High Energy Physics, included scientists from the University of Adelaide and associates from
the Jefferson Laboratory in Virginia, U.S.
Scientists have solid data on the composition of the subatomic universe and
the natural principles regulating it thanks to the analysis of the
byproducts produced when particles accelerated to extremely high energy
collide.
Deep inelastic scattering is the term given in particle physics to an
electron, muon, and neutrino-based procedure that is used to see inside
hadrons (especially the baryons, such protons and neutrons).
"To accommodate for the potential of a dark photon, we have modified the
underlying theory by using the state-of-the-art Jefferson Lab Angular
Momentum (JAM) parton distribution function global analysis framework,"
explained Professor Thomas.
"Our work provides evidence for a particle discovery, as the dark photon
hypothesis is preferred over the standard model hypothesis at a significance
of 6.5 sigma."
Provided by
University of Adelaide
