The hunt for one of the universe”s darkest secrets continues as scientists seek out the mysteries of dark matter. Dark matter is responsible for core actions in the solar system such as the formation of galaxies, but is notoriously difficult to detect. A new study put forth by researchers from the University of Nottingham’s’ School of Physics and Astronomy demonstrates a method of detecting dark matter using a specially designed vacuum system. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Dark Matter?
Ordinary matter is what people consider to be everything. Anything that takes up space and has mass falls in this category from the largest star to the smallest atom. Surprisingly, this type of matter is only a small part of the equation. Specifically, it only takes up about 5% of the universe’s composition.
Researchers have concluded that 30% of the universe is composed of black energy, another mysterious force scientists have been studying for some time. The remaining 69% is dark matter. Researchers have made many assumptions about this force.
Some believe that dark matter is composed of primordial black holes, while others have concluded that these must be undiscovered subatomic particles. Despite their positions, all agree that science doesn’t have sensitive enough equipment to capture this level of energy yet.
How was Dark Matter Discovered?
Astronomers first mentioned dark matter in 1933. A Swiss-American astronomer named Fritz Zwicky was surprised to find that the Coma Cluster galaxy defied known astronomical beliefs of the time. The galaxy had only 1% of the mass needed to hold the galaxies together.
Source – Constellation-guide
He theorized that there must be some other form of matter providing the mass to hold the galaxies in place. This elusive substance acted as a structural support and roadmap for the formation of new stars, galaxies, and more. Notably, he could tell mathematically that the mass existed, but it would take many more years of research before scientists could accurately recreate dark matter anomalies consistently and in a measurable manner.
Detecting Dark Matter is Difficult
Detecting invisible dark matter has proven to be a time-consuming and scientifically challenging process. The force is invisible and even with the most advanced optical instruments, it’s still nearly impossible to detect. Instead, the only way that researchers have been able to detect this force is through fluctuations in the gravitational influences.
New Study Improves Detection
The study, “Detecting dark domain walls through their impact on particle trajectories in tailored ultrahigh vacuum environments,” explains a new method for measuring dark matter presence. The novel approach introduces a specially designed 3D-printed vacuum chamber that allows dark matter to accumulate and collide, resulting in gravitational fluctuation.
Scalar Fields
The researchers used scalar fields to ensure they captured minuscule changes in the gravitational field. Scalar fields are commonly used to solve and capture data from 3D environments. These testing protocols assign every single point in space with a specific number. Scalar fields provide an accurate and consistent way to measure changes in fields across space.
Scalar fields are common today. They are used to measure temperature changes, electric potential, radiation, pressure, and gravitational changes. The dynamic nature of this style of data recovery enables researchers to gain useful insight into the monitored environment. This data can be collected in a linear, nonlinear, or scale manner.
Test
The study, which took three years to complete, highlights how special 3D-printed chambers create a phenomenon known as Domain walls. Domain walls are energy build-ups that occur when scalar field phase transitions occur. The domain walls affect particles as they pass through them, changing their trajectory and altering their flight path. This deviation, in course, can be measured to determine the existence of dark matter.
Researchers monitored these domain walls and took their data to create the ideal 3D-printed vacuum chamber. The device incorporated a specific shape and structure for trapping dark matter particles. The researchers also used special materials that helped with the trapping process.
Lower Density by Lowering the Temp
The team added the reaction process by lowering the temperature of the light particles. This process was described by researchers as being similar to water becoming slower and solidifying as temperature drops. In this research, the lower-density gas was mixed with ultracold lithium atoms.
As part of the experiment, these atoms were cooled to -273 degrees. This temperature placed the atoms at near absolute zero, enabling them to react in a stable manner compared to normal temperatures. This maneuver simulated a particle traveling through a substance that got denser along its path.
Results
Researchers successfully measured nanohertz gravitational-wave fluctuations, and their presence signaled dark matter. These results could have a resounding effect on how scientists see the universe’s evolution. Now, the testing process can be used to gather further data on these elusive particles that provide the building blocks of the galaxy.
Researchers
The study was conducted at one of Europe’s leading scientific research academies, the University of Nottingham’s’ School of Physics and Astronomy. Specifically, Professor Clare Burrage led the research efforts and was aided by Associate Professor Lucia Hackermueller.
Benefits the Study Reveals
The ability to detect dark matter using domain walls via printed vacuum chambers introduces a new world of opportunities to researchers and those seeking to gain a better understanding of this force. The study lays the foundation for researchers seeking to measure and predict the actions of this force, with the goal of one day understanding how it helps in the formation of galaxies and the evolution of the universe.
Other Dark Matter Studies Worth Noting
The scientific community continues to innovate and invent new methods of monitoring dark matter and energy. These methods span a variety of sciences, including measuring from space, creating large light particle tracking devices to search for gravitational effects, and much more. Here are some of the most advantageous efforts put forth to date.
Euclid Space Telescope
Europe’s Euclid space telescope was recently launched from a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida in search of dark matter. The project, dubbed “Dark Detective,” was designed to work with the James Webb telescope to further investigate anomalies. Unlike the James Webb telescope, which has incredible pin-point focus, the 15-foot-tall and 11-foot-wide satellite telescope was designed to capture huge panoramic views of the universe.
The device will be able to capture the largest perspective photos of the 13.8-billion-year-old universe’s history. Scientists can examine these photos to track light movement over the galaxy. Notably, they can then use light distortion to locate gravitational anomalies caused by dark matter. This phenomenon is known as gravitational lensing and has yielded some intriguing results.
CERN
One of the most advantageous and best-known projects used to attempt to monitor, measure, and create dark matter comes from the researchers at CERN. This massive research facility was founded in 1954. Since that time, it has played a huge role in the scientific community across multiple sectors, including creating research protocols for discovering and monitoring high-energy protocols.
This Geneva-based research firm has worked with the brightest and most innovative projects in the market, and its accomplishments can’t be understated. For example, Tim Berners-Lee famously launched the World Wide Web in 1989 from the facility that later hosted the first website in 1991. Today, the facility has a focus on a variety of scientific activities.
CERN is best known as the home of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This device is the world’s largest and highest-energy particle collider. This device can take parcels and shoot them at peak speed before colliding them to register the effects. This method is now being used to measure gravitational effects caused by dark matter which could one day further shed light on its presence and effects.
Neutron Star
Another method that researchers have introduced to monitor for the presence of dark matter is through the measurement of neutron star energy levels. Using a purpose-built telescope called the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole in Antarctica, researchers can monitor the build-up of dark matter on these celestial bodies.
Notably, scientists seek out the by-product particles that get created when dark matter interacts and destroys itself. This occurrence happens whenever there is a build-up of dark matter on a neutron star. This method tracks the byproducts of these collisions and measures their fluctuations over time, creating a map of this energy as it travels.
Companies that Could Benefit from these Discoveries
The ability to detect and one day harness dark matter has been a long-time goal for scientists and researchers. These latest developments will make it easier to study this elusive element in depth and begin to unravel its mysteries. To accomplish this task, there will be more demand for spacecraft and high-end testing facilities. Here are two companies that are positioned to benefit from these developments moving forward.
1. SpaceX
Billionaire eccentric Elon Musk founded SpaceX on March 14, 2002. This El Segundo, California-based firm launched under a different name “Space Exploration Technologies Corporation” (SET) before rebranding to the more marketable SpaceX name. Notably, to ensure the project, Musk put up 50% of his then $180M-worth of PayPal stocks. These funds went to locking in the researchers needed to launch their first rocket.
SpaceX is pioneering the commercial space sector today. The company remains the first privately funded company to send a craft to the international space station. It’s also the first to land a rocket on the moon, launch the most powerful rocket, and the only company to successfully land a reusable rocket.
2. Teledyne Technologies Inc. 
Teledyne Technologies Inc. is a leading supplier of aerospace materials. The firm offers a selection of high-end advanced electronic components, instruments, and communications products. Teledyne Tech entered the market in 1999 and originally featured a conglomerate of 19 companies. Today, Teledyne Technologies, Inc. includes +100 companies globally.
Teledyne Technologies Inc. could see significant profits gained from a drive to put more sensors in space. The firm is a major provider of aerospace-grade aluminum and other systems vital to accomplishing these missions. There are several satellites currently leveraging the company’s products.
The Teledyne Technologies Inc. stock TDY has seen consistent returns of 6.56%. The firm’s positioning and the predicted growth in space-related activities make these assets a strong “Buy”. In the future weeks, Teledyne Technologies, Inc. will continue to play a pivotal role in the growing aerospace market.
Future of Dark Matter Studies
The future of dark matter research is bright. The introduction of robotics and AI will propel it to new heights and enable researchers to, for the first time, begin to track and monitor this substance consistently. The introduction of AI-powered robotic space researchers will help to bring humans closer to these elusive answers without risking human life.
Additionally, there will be much more focus on creating dark matter in labs. The LHC will play a pivotal role in this process as the largest particle accelerator with sensors sensitive enough to capture the minuscule fluctuations caused by dark matter.
Measuring Dark Matter is Step 1
The advancements made in measuring dark matter continue to help expose the characteristics of this not-yet-understood force. In the future, researchers will connect relevant data and leverage advanced AI deep learning to make correlations that may have seemed improbable to human readers. All of these developments and much more will result in dark matter becoming more transparent in the future.
You can learn more about exciting aerospace projects here.