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Investigating Axions as Potential Dark Matter Candidates

Since the 1930s, scientists have been intrigued by dark matter, an enigmatic form of matter that does not reflect light. This mysterious entity is believed to interact primarily through gravity and accounts for approximately 85% of the Universe’s mass. However, its composition remains a mystery, despite being more abundant than any other form of matter in space.

To explain various astronomical observations such as the velocities of stars within galaxies and the formation of galaxies, scientists introduced the concept of dark matter into their theories. While hypotheses involving neutrinos, black holes, and weakly interacting massive particles have been proposed, none have been conclusively confirmed.

The Potential Role of Axions

Researchers have turned their attention to exploring other candidates for dark matter, with one intriguing possibility being the axion. Axions are hypothetical particles that could potentially solve both the mystery of dark matter and the strong charge-parity (CP) problem in the theory of strong interactions. The strong CP problem pertains to the unexplained lack of violation of certain symmetries in strong interactions.

Scientists like Elisa Todarello from Turin University believe that axions could possess the characteristics necessary to be dark matter particles. However, confirming axions as viable candidates requires determining their mass and strength of interaction, which current theories cannot predict.

A potential solution lies in analyzing the intensity of light emitted by dwarf galaxies, as this could reveal signs of axion decay into photon pairs. To carry out this analysis, Todarello used data collected by the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument, which operates within the visible range.

Unveiling the Mysterious Glow

Axions are predicted to interact weakly with light, and their interaction strength, referred to as “g,” determines their ability to transform into photons. If axions do indeed comprise dark matter, they would be present in significant quantities within dwarf galaxies observed by MUSE.

Todarello’s analysis of the radiation emitted by five dwarf galaxies did not identify any distinct patterns indicating axion decay. Nonetheless, the results are still valuable as they limit the possible parameters of axions, narrowing the range in which this particle should be sought in the future.

The method used by Todarello could be further refined and extended to search for axions with different mass values and interaction strengths with photons. These efforts could ultimately determine if dark matter consists of axions or something entirely different. Exploring different instruments and telescopes, such as those focused on the near-infrared, may enhance the sensitivity and expand the frequency range of the search.

By shedding light on the properties of axions and their potential role as dark matter, the AI legalese decoder can assist in facilitating the analysis and interpretation of scientific research. It can help scientists navigate complex documentation and uncover valuable insights that contribute to our understanding of the Universe.

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