Scientists might have found a way to finally spot dark matter. Dark matter makes up most of the universe and is integral to the solar systems and galaxies that surround us. However, it remains invisible, and researchers can only infer its presence by studying its gravitational interactions with visible matter.
Gravitational Waves as a New Tool
Now, researchers believe they may be able to detect dark matter through the traces it leaves on gravitational waves—ripples in spacetime that travel across the universe and can be detected on Earth. Astronomers have simulated how gravitational waves would appear if they originated from a black hole moving through a region of dark matter rather than empty space. They then applied this model to real gravitational wave signals already recorded.
Key Findings from the Study
Out of the 27 clearest gravitational wave signals analyzed, 26 appeared consistent with propagation through a vacuum. However, one signal, designated GW190728, seems to bear the imprint of dark matter. The researchers emphasize that this technique does not directly detect dark matter itself but offers a way to identify its traces, which could be further investigated using other methods.
"We know that dark matter is around us. It just has to be dense enough for us to see its effects," said Josu Aurrekoetxea from the MIT Department of Physics. "Black holes provide a mechanism to enhance this density, which we can now search for by analyzing the gravitational waves emitted when they merge."
Publication Details
The findings are reported in a new paper titled "Scalar fields around black hole binaries in LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA," published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
