Finding new physics in debris from colliding neutron stars

Neutron star mergers are a treasure trove for new physics signals, with implications for determining the true nature of dark matter, according to research from Washington University in St. Louis.

Axions and axion-like particles are leading candidates to compose part or all of the"missing" matter, or dark matter, of the universe that scientists have not been able to account for yet. At the very least, these feebly-interacting particles can serve as a kind of portal, connecting the visible sector that humans know much about to the unknown dark sector of the universe.

These new particles quietly escape the debris of the collision and, far away from their source, can decay into known particles, typically photons. Dev and his team -- including WashU alum Steven Harris , as well as Jean-Francois Fortin, Kuver Sinha and Yongchao Zhang -- showed that these escaped particles give rise to unique electromagnetic signals that can be detected by gamma-ray telescopes, such as NASA's Fermi-LAT.

"Extreme astrophysical environments, like neutron star mergers, provide a new window of opportunity in our quest for dark sector particles like axions, which might hold the key to understanding the missing 85% of all the matter in the universe," Dev said.Researchers reveal a theoretical breakthrough that may explain both the nature of invisible dark matter and the large-scale structure of the universe known as the cosmic web. The result establishes a ...

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Scientists create 5 new isotopes to learn how neutron star collisions forge goldRobert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.
Source: SPACEdotcom - 🏆 92. / 67 Read more »

A Neutron Star Rests at Supernova 1987A’s CenterThe supernova has astonished experts since its discovery almost four decades ago
Source: DiscoverMag - 🏆 459. / 53 Read more »

JWST spies hints of a neutron star left behind by supernova 1987ASigns of highly ionized atoms in dusty clouds at SN 1987A’s explosion site suggest a powerful source of X-rays — likely a neutron star — lurks within.
Source: ScienceNews - 🏆 286. / 63 Read more »

New kid on the block: Neutron imaging unveils hidden stories in fossilsDiscover how neutron imaging is reshaping our comprehension of Earth's history, from exposing hidden dinosaur insights to unveiling ancient artifacts.
Source: IntEngineering - 🏆 287. / 63 Read more »

Webb finds evidence for neutron star at heart of young supernova remnantNASA's James Webb Space Telescope has found the best evidence yet for emission from a neutron star at the site of a recently observed supernova. The supernova, known as SN 1987A, was a core-collapse supernova, meaning the compacted remains at its core formed either a neutron star or a black hole.
Source: ScienceDaily - 🏆 452. / 53 Read more »

The View's Sunny Hostin received backlash after Finding Your Roots surprising revelations'The View' star Sunny Hostin said she's received messages telling her that she's a 'white girl' who doesn't 'deserve reparations' following her 'Finding Your Roots' episode: 'It's too much.'
Source: EW - 🏆 713. / 51 Read more »