Astronomers Eye Potential Dark Matter Signal from Galactic Centre
A mysterious excess โขof gamma rays emanating โfrom the center of โขthe Milky Way โgalaxy isโ promptingโ scientists to investigate whether it โcould be a long-sought signal of dark โขmatter. New research, โฃutilizing โขsupercomputer simulations and observations from NASA’s Fermi space telescope, suggests a correlation between areas of highโ dark matter collisionโฃ densityโข and the observed gamma ray excess.
dark matter, which makes up moreโ than 26% of โthe universe, remains elusive, but is believed โto be crucial for holdingโ galaxies together. “Darkโ matter dominates theโค universe and โฃholds galaxies โtogether. It โis indeed extremely critically important, and we are constantly looking for ways to detect it,” explained Professor Josephโ Silk, leaderโ of the study. “Gamma rays, and in particular the excess observed at the center of the galaxy,โฃ could be our first tangible clue.”
Theโ research team mapped theโค distribution of dark matter in โthe Milky Way, accounting for โthe collisions and โmergers of small proto-galaxies during the universe’sโฃ early stages. The โresulting mapโ closely aligns withโค the regions exhibiting theโข gamma ray surplus. “This is one of the strongest signals we have ever received โคfrom darkโ matter,” the study authors stated.
While the gamma โray glow could possibly originate from pulsars, researchers note โฃthat โconfirmingโข this would require โa significantly larger population of pulsars than currently observed at the galactic center.
A future international โgamma-ray telescope, theโค Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTAO), slated for operation in 2026 in bothโ Spain and Chile, is expected to provide more definitive answers. “A clear signal would be irrefutable proof, inโค my opinion. โโฆ Orโ maybe we won’t find anything, โฃin which case the mysteryโค will โbe even bigger to solve,” Professor Silkโข concluded.
