New research suggests that one of Stephen Hawking’s most controversial theories could soon be tested.
In the 1970s, Hawking suggested it Dark matterThe invisible substance that makes up most things in the universe can be created Black holes Created in the first moments The big bang.
Now, three astronomers have developed a theory that could explain not only the existence of dark matter but also the appearance of the largest black holes in the universe.
“What I personally find most exciting about this idea is that it explores and solves two difficult problems I am working on – the nature of dark matter and the formation and evolution of black holes – all in one breath.” Thus he said in the statement. Also, many new tools – including the James Web Space Telescope – can generate the data needed to finally evaluate the popular Hawking concept.
Belong to: Stephen Hawking’s vision of black holes
Black holes from the beginning
80% of all matter in the universe is dark matter, but it does not interact directly with light in any way. It floats wide and affects Gravity Within galaxies.
It is tempting to think that black holes may be the cause of this elusive thing. After all, black holes are generally dark, so filling the galaxy with black holes explains theoretically all observations of matter.
Unfortunately, in the modern universe, black holes form only after massive stars die and then collapse under their own gravitational weight. So it takes a lot of stars to create black holes – it takes a lot of normal stuff. Scientists know the amount of ordinary matter in the universe from the calculations of the early universe. Hydrogen And Radiation Formed. And it has nothing in common with all the dark things astronomers have noticed.
Sleeping giants
This is where Hawking comes in. In 1971, he suggested that black holes form in the chaotic environment of the Big Bang’s first moments. There, the pockets of matter spontaneously reach the density needed to form black holes, filling the void before the first stars glow. Hawking suggested that these “primary” black holes may be due to dark matter. While the idea is intriguing, most astronomers have focused on finding a new subatomic particle to explain dark matter.
Furthermore, ancient morphological specimens of the black hole are difficult to observe. Many that formed in the early universe changed the image of residual radiation from the early universe known as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMP). That is, the theory only works when the number and size of ancient black holes are very small or conflict with CMB measurements. .
The idea was revived in 2015 when the gravitational wave laser interferometer laboratory discovered the first pair of colliding black holes. Both black holes were much larger than expected, and one way to explain their larger masses is to say that they formed in the early universe, not in the hearts of dying stars.
Simple solution
In a recent study, Natarajan and Nico Cabellotti of the University of Miami and Thunder Hasinger of the European Space Agency explored the theory of primitive black holes, how to interpret dark matter and how to solve other cosmic challenges.
To pass current tracking tests, primitive black holes must be within a certain mass range. In a new work, researchers estimate that primitive black holes are 1.4 times heavier than the Sun. They created a model of the universe that replaced all dark matter with these light black holes, and then searched for visible evidence to verify (or reject) the model.
The team discovered that primitive black holes could play a key role in the universe by sowing the first stars, the first galaxies, and the first supermassive black holes (SMBHs). Stars, galaxies and small and medium-sized holes appear much faster in cosmic history, perhaps faster than the formation and evolutionary processes we observe in the world today.
“Primary black holes, if any, can be the seeds that make up all the giant black holes, including the ones in the center. Milky WayNatarajan said.
The theory is simple and does not require the gardening of new particles to explain the dark matter.
“Our study shows that without the introduction of new particles or new physics, we can solve the mysteries of modern cosmology, from the nature of dark matter to the appearance of supermassive black holes,” Ship said in a statement.
So far this idea is only a prototype, but it is one that will be tested relatively soon. The James Webb Space Telescope, launched many years later on Christmas Day, is specifically designed to answer questions about the origin of stars and galaxies. Next-generation gravitational-wave detectors, especially laser interferometer (LISA) space antennas, are preparing to discover a lot about black holes, including black holes.
Together the two laboratories should provide astronomers with enough information to link the story of the first stars and the appearance of dark matter together.
“It is inevitable that this idea will be deeply explored and will be verified soon,” Natarajan said.
First published in Live Science.
