Gravitational waves may have created dark matter in the early universe

New research proposes that gravitational waves from the early universe may have directly generated dark matter particles, reshaping theories of cosmic origins. | Contesto: cronaca

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• Gravitational waves may have created dark matter in the early universe

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In the chaotic first moments after the Big Bang, ripples in spacetime may have done more than just echo through the cosmos—they could have helped create dark matter itself. New research suggests that faint, ancient gravitational waves might have transformed into particles that eventually became the invisible substance shaping galaxies today. The study, led by a team of theoretical physicists, explores a novel mechanism for the origin of dark matter, the elusive material that makes up about 85 percent of the universe's mass but does not emit, absorb, or reflect light. For decades, scientists have speculated about how dark matter formed, with leading theories involving hypothetical particles like WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles) or axions. This new hypothesis offers an alternative: that gravitational waves—ripples in the fabric of spacetime—could have directly generated dark matter particles during the universe's earliest, most energetic phase. According to the researchers, in the first fraction of a second after the Big Bang, the universe was a seething, turbulent sea of energy. During this period, gravitational waves of immense strength would have been produced by violent cosmic events, such as phase transitions and the collision of primordial structures. These waves, the theory posits, could have interacted with the quantum fields that permeate space, effectively converting their energy into massive particles. If those particles were stable and interacted only weakly with ordinary matter, they would fit the description of dark matter. The significance of this idea lies in its ability to connect two of the most profound mysteries in modern physics: the nature of dark matter and the origin of gravitational waves. While gravitational waves from merging black holes and neutron stars have been detected by observatories like LIGO and Virgo, the primordial waves proposed in this study would be far older and fainter, originating from the dawn of time. Detecting them would require next-generation instruments, such as space-based interferometers like LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna), planned for launch in the 2030s. If this mechanism is correct, it...

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Categoria: cronaca