Emerging research proposes that dark matter may have originated in the nascent moments of the Big Bang. These particles, trapped in hyperdense pockets, could have formed black holes, which then disintegrated into a multitude of dark matter particles. This process suggests an "invisible periodic table" of elements, according to the study's authors.
The enigma of dark matter, despite its dominance in the universe's mass, has long puzzled physicists. Its existence is inferred from circumstantial evidence like the rotational speed of stars within galaxies and the most massive cosmic structures. However, its exact nature remains elusive.
Prior studies presumed dark matter to be simplistic: a singular, incredibly light particle pervading the universe and barely interacting with ordinary matter. Despite extensive searches, no new particles were discovered, leading researchers to contemplate if dark matter particles could be rarer yet heavier. However, theoretical models have struggled to seed the early universe with the right quantity of these heavy particles.
In a recent study published in the arXiv preprint database, researchers proposed a method to generate heavy dark matter particles post-Big Bang. They suggested a sprinkling of black holes.
The study notes that the early universe underwent intense phase transitions as the fundamental forces of nature segregated. The physics underpinning each transition changed. This process is replicated in particle accelerators, where electromagnetic and weak nuclear forces merge at high energies, recreating the Big Bang's initial moments[6].
The researchers posited that ultraheavy dark matter could be trapped during one of the universe's early phase transitions. A disorderly transition could form bubbles, trapping the universe's pockets in new physics while the rest lagged behind[7].
According to their model, the earliest dark matter was light, while the subsequent periods saw heavier dark matter. In this scenario, dark matter gets ensnared within bubbles, where densities escalate until they collapse into black holes. These black holes evaporate through Hawking radiation before the emergence of standard matter.
As black holes disintegrate, they emit new dark matter particles, making for a vast repertoire of dark matter types, akin to the periodic table of elements.
While direct evidence supporting this theory is yet to be obtained, detection of one or more dark matter species would bolster this idea. Currently, astronomers are devising ways to detect gravitational waves from the Big Bang, providing a direct observational window into this pivotal epoch in the universe's history.
This theory opens the door to potential interactions between dark matter species, hinting at a complex, invisible network of physics operating throughout the cosmos.
Source: arXiv
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