Dark energy accounts for nearly 70% of the observable universe. It is mysterious in nature but has a great influence. Its main function is to promote the accelerated expansion of the universe. Recently, the Dark Energy Survey (DES) project, which has gathered more than 400 scientists for 10 years, released analysis results that are consistent with the existing standard cosmological model of accelerated expansion, confirming that we do not need to worry about the tearing of the universe.
In 1998, astrophysicists discovered by observing certain types of stellar explosions (Type Ia supernovae) that the expansion of the universe was accelerating due to the presence of mysterious dark energy, contrary to the consensus among physicists at the time that the expansion of the universe should be slowed down by gravity.
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Now, the Dark Energy Survey (DES) research project has gathered scientists from all over the world for 10 years to analyze 1,500 Type Ia supernovae, creating a new photometric method to measure the supernova light curve, which is the elusive value of the dark energy state equation. The quantity w provides one of the best measurements to date.
This equation of state describes the ratio of a substance’s pressure to its energy density. Its w value tells you whether a substance is a relativistic gas or behaves like a fluid. Calculating this number is the first step in understanding the nature of dark energy.
The best theories predict that w should be exactly negative one (w=-1), indicating that as the energy density of dark energy increases, so does the negative pressure, while the latest measurements give a value of w = –0.8 +/- 0.18, combined With supplementary data from the European Space Agency’s Planck telescope, the value of w is even closer to –1.
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This result shows that the dark energy density of the universe may change over time, and may bring the “Big Tear” universe hypothesis to an end, because the equation of state of this model has a more negative value, and it is believed that the universe will expand infinitely at an increasingly faster speed. Eventually breaking apart galaxies, planetary systems and even spacetime itself.
Other more advanced dark energy survey plans are coming, and DES scientists emphasize that theoretical models are still needed to explain dark energy in addition to experimental observations. Even if we measure dark energy with infinite precision, it does not mean that we can know what it is.
(Source of first picture:pixabay）
