Scientists Say Gravitational Waves Will Aid in the Discovery of ‘Dark Matter’

The discovery of the gravitational wave background announced last week has had a profound impact on the field of astronomy. Scientists are already exploring how this new window to the universe can provide insights into the workings of the universe.

At the National Astronomy Meeting 2023, held at Cardiff University in Wales, UK, an international team of cosmologists presented research suggesting that observations of gravitational waves from merging black holes may offer clues about the true nature of “dark matter.”

Gaining an understanding of gravitational waves and dark matter is no easy task, but it is not impossible:

• Gravitational waves are disturbances in the fabric of space-time caused by violent events in the universe.
• The gravitational wave background is a vast network of ripples produced throughout the history of the universe, potentially stemming from the rapid orbit of supermassive black holes.
• Dark matter is a term used by astronomers to describe hypothetical particles that cannot be detected and are invisible. They do not emit, absorb, or reflect light or energy, yet they are believed to comprise about 85% of all matter in the universe. Dark matter is thought to interact solely via gravity.

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Black Holes Hold the Key

The interaction between dark matter particles and other particles, such as atoms or neutrinos, remains unknown. To tackle this challenge, cosmologists performed computer simulations to study how gravitational waves would interact with different types of dark matter.

This research revealed that by observing and analyzing the number of black hole merging events, which can be detected by future telescopes, scientists can gain insights into the behavior of dark matter.

Ultimately, this knowledge will contribute to a better understanding of the composition of dark matter.

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Hidden in the Haloes

It is speculated that when dense haloes of dark matter collide with neutrinos, which are fundamental subatomic particles lacking electric charge, their structure becomes dispersed, resulting in the formation of fewer galaxies. Consequently, fewer black hole mergers are detected through gravitational waves.

The authors of the study suggest that the presence or absence of black hole mergers observed through gravitational waves can provide insights into the interactions involving dark matter.

“Gravitational waves offer us a unique opportunity to observe the early universe, as they can freely travel through space. Next-generation interferometers will be capable of detecting individual events that occur over vast distances,” said co-author Markus Mosbech from the University of Sydney in Australia.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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