We are in a vital time in the field of astrophysics where new discoveries do not stop happening and our knowledge of the universe is expanding. One of the most striking mysteries is made up of the matter of which the universe is mostly composed (it is five times more abundant than ordinary matter) and that cannot be observed directly: dark matter.
Understanding this matter of an unknown nature is a primary goal in modern astrophysics. Now, a group of scientists from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (USA) claims to have identified a trace of dark matter annihilation, which shows that if the destruction of dark matter is possible, the range of options to find out its origin would be greatly reduced.
As it does not emit any radiation, its detection is more complex but in this “signature” situation of a process of annihilation of dark matter particles, we find some serious candidates: the weakly interacting massive particles or WIMPS ( Weakly Interacting Massive Particles ).
How did they detect this trace?
Scientists examined in detail the distribution of gamma ray emissions within the Milky Way, specifically those that come from its central area, about 25,000 light years from Earth and which has the highest density of matter in the entire galaxy. The destruction of dark matter would cause a huge amount of gamma radiation, which would be detectable. And so it has been. The experts found an “anomalous” gamma ray trail in this region that stretched for hundreds of light years.
To confirm that it was not another gamma-ray source, that is, to rule out confusion, the researchers reviewed absolutely all the gamma-ray observations published to date, employing innovative data reduction methods in order to pinpoint the accuracy of the location of these gamma ray emission sources. Astrophysicists showed that the gamma-ray signature does not match pulsars, but does match theoretical models of dark matter annihilation.
¿Habemus dark matter?
The finding has been published in the journal Physics of the Dark Universe.
