What if the world of dark matter was a mirror of our own, just with a broken set of rules? That might explain why dark matter appears to be so abundant yet invisible, a new theory suggests. Dark matter, the mysterious substance that makes up the majority of the mass in the universe, has long puzzled scientists. It doesn’t interact with light or normal matter, making it difficult to detect. However, its subtle gravitational influence on normal matter, such as the motions of stars within galaxies, provides evidence of its existence.
Scientists have proposed a new theory that suggests a hidden link between dark matter and regular matter. They suggest that for every physical interaction in normal matter, there is a mirror of it in the world of dark matter. This would create a new kind of symmetry in nature, connecting the two worlds. This symmetry could help explain why dark matter and regular matter have roughly the same abundances.
In their research published on the preprint journal arXiv, the scientists highlight another strange coincidence. In the physics of normal matter, a neutron and proton have almost exactly the same mass, allowing them to bind together and form stable atoms. If a proton was slightly heavier, atoms would not be able to form, and the universe would be left with free-floating neutrons. The researchers propose that in the dark matter mirror version of our universe, this scenario may be a reality. A different combination of physics could have led to a “dark proton” evaporating and leaving behind a sea of “dark neutrons,” which we identify as dark matter.
While this mirror model allows for the possibility of rich interactions among dark matter particles, such as dark atoms and a dark periodic table of elements, the researchers note that there can’t be too much interaction. If dark matter interacts with itself extensively, it would clump up more than scientists observe. Therefore, most of the dark matter must consist of simple, free-floating particles.
The proposed mirror model opens up the potential for future scientists to test this theory. In the early universe, normal matter underwent nucleosynthesis, where the first elements formed in a nuclear plasma. If the mirror model is correct, a similar process may have occurred in dark matter. By measuring the rate of element formation, scientists may be able to find evidence of channels between the two worlds and gain insight into the mirror dark universe.
While the existence and nature of dark matter continue to elude scientists, this new theory offers a fascinating perspective. It suggests that dark matter could be a mirror universe with broken rules, where different physics govern its behavior. Exploring this mirror world could provide valuable insights into the mysteries of the universe and our own existence. As technology advances and cosmological observatories improve, scientists may be one step closer to unraveling the secrets of dark matter and its connection to our world.
