Dark matter mystery: New clues emerge from Milky Way's core
Scientists are investigating enigmatic phenomena observed at the centre of our galaxy. Telescopes are detecting mysterious radiation, and the gas in the central molecular zone is highly ionized. Could this be due to a new kind of dark matter?
Astronomers have long pondered the mysterious phenomena at the heart of our galaxy. Researchers are unsure why the central part of the Milky Way has a high level of gas ionization in the central molecular zone (CMZ) and mysterious gamma radiation with an energy of 511 keV, which could be the result of electron and positron annihilation.
Dark matter as a key to unveiling mysteries
Dark matter is a mysterious form of matter that we cannot directly see, as it does not emit, reflect, or absorb light. However, we know it exists because it exerts gravitational effects on visible matter in the universe.
New research published in "Physical Review Letters" suggests that both these phenomena might be linked to dark matter. Scientists propose that a less massive form than previously assumed could be responsible for these effects. Although dark matter makes up 85% of the matter in the universe, it remains elusive to scientists.
Annihilation of particles in the centre of the galaxy
Researchers from King’s College London analyzed what happens when light dark matter particles come into contact with their antiparticles in the centre of the galaxy. The annihilation of these particles could lead to the production of electrons and positrons, which would explain the observed levels of ionization in the CMZ.
Simulations indicated that the process of dark matter annihilation could naturally explain the observed ionization levels. Moreover, the properties of this dark matter do not conflict with any known constraints from the early universe. This discovery suggests that the centre of the Milky Way may provide new clues regarding the nature of dark matter.
Future telescopes with better resolution may provide more information on the spatial distribution and the relationship between the 511 keV line and the degree of ionization in the CMZ. Continued observations could help either rule out or support the hypothesis of dark matter as the source of these phenomena.
