Scientists speculate that dark energy has been detected. The consequences for this could be huge, Dr. Sunny Vagnozzii, a lead researcher at the University of Cambridge, told Interesting Engineering.
“Direct detection of dark energy will have a huge impact on science, especially its non-gravitational interactions,” he said.
In a paper published in the journal Physical Review D on September 15, Vagnozzi and a team of researchers from the University of Cambridge described in detail how the unexplained results of the XENON1T experiment (xenon half-life) could be caused by the capture of dark energy.
Detecting dark energy
See also: What is dark matter and dark energy?
Last year, the XENON1T experiment, conducted deep underground, announced an unexpected discovery. To explain this anomaly, researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a physical model that aims to determine whether a signal is generated from dark energy. We are talking about a hypothetical force that is believed to accelerate the expansion of the universe and thus oppose dark matter.
The researchers say their new work is an important step towards the direct detection of dark energy. Thanks to this model, researchers believe that the signal can be generated from dark energy particles generated in a region of the sun known for its strong magnetic fields.
The next step will be the next experiments, which will confirm their findings.
“Confirmation of dark energy still requires experiments to prove its authenticity. We need it to believe our own eyes. For example, I can say that if we detect this phenomenon in a laboratory and it is really dark energy, then we should see such a handwriting cosmologist “In observations as well, especially in a large-scale structure,” Vagnozzi said.
The study of dark matter and energy
It is estimated that about 27 percent of the universe is made up of dark matter, while 68 percent is occupied by dark energy – an invisible hypothetical force that causes the universe to expand at an accelerated rate. These two forms have not been understood for years, despite experiments such as XENON1T designed to detect dark matter particles by means of an isolated liquid tank of xenon atoms.
The scientific community first discovered dark matter in the 1920s, which means that scientists had much more time to study the mysterious power of the unification of galaxies than for dark energy.
“Scientists discovered the gravitational interaction of dark matter decades ago. Now we want to take a step forward and better understand what it is, what kind of particle it is (if any), how it interacts with other kinds of matter, etc. When it comes to dark energy, this “We are relatively far behind, so the direct detection of dark energy can significantly advance science,” Vagnozzi said.
Detection of dark energy
To detect dark matter, Vagnozzi and his team built a physical model that uses a so-called screening mechanism. He does this so that the results are understandable within Einstein’s theory of gravity, which does not take into account the effects of dark energy on a small scale.
This type of screening mechanism, known as chameleon screening. Researchers suggest that the fixation of XENON1T excess energy could be explained by dark energy particles generated in the solar region. This region is called the tachocline, where magnetic fields are particularly strong.
According to researchers at the University of Cambridge, if everything goes according to plan and the excess of XENON1T is the result of really dark energy, future experiments will finally confirm this in a few years. This will be just as important as the first photo of the black hole.
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