Discovering Dark Matter in 10 Seconds: The Hope in a Supernova

3rd December 2024

1 minute read

Discovering Dark Matter in 10 Seconds: The Hope in a Supernova

Gamma rays emitted by neutron stars at the core of supernova explosions could unveil the mystery of dark matter in just 10 seconds.

This discovery could occur if dark matter is composed of hypothetical particles known as “axions,” which are currently the leading candidates for solving this enigma.

A team from the University of California, Berkeley, believes that a supernova close enough to Earth could allow scientists to detect high-energy gamma rays, helping to confirm the mass of axions and fully resolve the mystery of dark matter.

Such an event would require the explosion of a massive star either within the Milky Way galaxy or in one of its satellite galaxies, such as the Large Magellanic Cloud. These explosions happen approximately every few decades. The last nearby supernova, “1987A,” occurred in the Large Magellanic Cloud in 1987.

If this theory, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, proves accurate, astronomers could soon solve one of the most complex mysteries of the universe, with the help of the only gamma-ray telescope, Fermi.

However, the chances of aiming the telescope at a supernova at the right moment are only 1 in 10.

The research team emphasizes that a single detection of gamma rays emitted by a neutron star could be enough to determine the mass of the axion. Researchers are particularly focused on discovering a specific type of axion called “QCD axion,” whose mass depends on temperature.

Dr. Benjamin Safdi, the lead researcher from the University of California, states: “If we witness a supernova like 1987A using a modern telescope, we could detect or rule out the existence of QCD axions, all within just 10 seconds.”