New concepts in astrophysics sticking out: researchers propose the existence of a mysterious type of star named “dark dwarf” – Not a fictional creature from the world of Tolkien, but an exotic sky object that is believed to be hidden in the center of galaxy.
Different from the dark name, “Dark” here is not referring to ordinary darkness, but at Dark material (Dark Matter) – Mysterious substances that form about 85% of the total mass of the universe but do not emit or reflect light. Although invisible, this material has a very real influence of gravity.
According to the new study, Brown Dwarf or “The star failed“-Sky objects that are too small to trigger nuclear fusion such as the Sun-can be a trap of gravity for dark material. When dark material is attracted and accumulate in it, it can interact and” destroy “(self-annihilate), releasing heat energy.
“Dark material can be interested in gravity and trapped in stars. If the amount is sufficient and it can interact on its own, then the energy released will heat the star,” explained Jeremy Sakstein, Astrophysikawan from the University of Hawai’i.
New energy in the heart of the galaxy
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Brown Dwarf is formed like an ordinary star from gas clouds and dust, but the mass is too small to start a hydrogen fusion. As a result, they only shine weak from gravitational contractions and a little fusion reaction.
But in the core of the galaxy, where the concentration of dark material is very high, Brown Dwarf can collect this material in large quantities and trigger an unusual process – making it “dark dwarf” with alternative energy sources.
“Dark Dwarf has a mass of about 8% of the sun,” said Sakstein. “The more dark material around it, the more that can be captured, and the greater the energy released.”
This phenomenon is only possible if dark material particles can interact with each other. One of the candidates for particles that meet these criteria is WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle) – heavy particles that interact weakly with ordinary material, but are strong enough with each other to produce energy.
How to detect it: Find Litium-7 Traces
The idea of Dark Dwarf certainly will not mean if there is no way to distinguish it from ordinary Brown Dwarf. The research team proposed the chemical footprint of Lithium-7 as a unique marker. This isotopes are flammable and will quickly disappear in ordinary stars. However, if an object resembles a brown dwarf but still contains Litium-7, it could be a Dark Dwarf candidate.
“Litium-7 can be a typical marker. If there are objects that resemble Dark Dwarf and still have lithium, then it is likely that it is not an ordinary star,” Sakstein explained.
Potential detection by today’s telescope
Sakstein believes that the Telescope of James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is strong enough to detect cold and dim objects like Dark Dwarf. In addition, astronomers can also analyze the population of certain sky objects statistically to see whether there are sub-groups of dark dwarfs between them.
If only one Dark Dwarf can be detected at the center of our galaxy, it will be a strong clue that dark material consists of heavy particles such as WIMP that can interact with each other.
“If it’s true, this can be a real proof that dark material is not only an invisible mass, but something that is active and can change the way we understand the universe,” concluded Sakstein. (Space/z-2)