Scientists predict dark matter can power hidden stars

Astronomers may soon discover a new celestial object, powered entirely by dark matter near the center of our galaxy.

These theoretical “dark dwarves” do not shine from nuclear fusion like ordinary stars, but rather the annihilation of dark matter particles captured from the core.

Research shows that these objects can provide key evidence about the nature of dark matter, and an estimated 25% of the universe remains one of the greatest mysteries of astronomy. Unlike conventional brown dwarfs, stars that end up cooling and fading, dark dwarfs will maintain constant brightness indefinitely and are maintained by exotic fuel sources.

Beyond nuclear fusion

“We think 25% of the universe is made up of non-luminous matter, making it invisible to our eyes and telescopes. We can only detect it through its gravitational effects. That’s why we call it “dark matter,” explains Jeremy Sakstein, a physics professor at the University of Hawaii and the Federation of Research.

The research team simulated how dark matter particles accumulate in small stellar objects through gravity capture. When these particles collide and eliminate, they release energy that heats the stars from within, which is fundamentally different from the fusion of hydrogen that powers ordinary stars.

“Dark matter interacts in gravity, so it can be captured and accumulated in it. If this happens, it can also interact with itself and eliminate it, thus releasing the energy that heats the star.”

Galaxy Center Treasure Hunt

Dark dwarves are most likely to form in areas with extremely high dark matter density, such as the center of the Milky Way, with a concentration of 1000 times that of a typical galaxy level. The study shows several key features that can distinguish these objects:

• Mass is about 8% of our sun – the amount of nuclear fusion is small
• Constant luminosity, radius and temperature over time
• The preservation of lithium-7, ordinary stars are consumed quickly
• Annihilation by dark matter rather than nuclear process

The last point can provide crucial detection methods. “There are some marks, but we recommend using lithium 7 because it is really a unique effect,” Saxtan explained. “So if you can find an object that looks like a black dwarf, you can look for the presence of this lithium because if it’s a brown dwarf or something like that, it doesn’t exist.”

Testing dark matter theory

The existence of the dark dwarf will support specific theories about dark matter composition, especially the hypothesis that it consists of weakly interacting giant particles (WIMPs). These theoretical particles will be large enough to accumulate inside the stars and interact with each other to generate detectable energy by annihilation.

“To make black dwarfs exist, it is necessary to make dark matter from soot matter, or any heavy particles that interact with themselves, to produce visible matter.” Other proposed dark matter candidates, such as lightweight axes or sterile neutrinos, may not produce the necessary heating effect.

Advanced telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope may already have the sensitivity required to detect these exotic objects. The researchers also recommend statistically examining the stellar populations to determine whether there are dark dwarf subpopulations between known celestial objects.

If astronomers do recognize the black dwarf, the discovery will not only represent unusual stars. “If we manage to find a dark dwarf, it will provide compelling evidence that dark matter is heavy, interacting with itself, but only with the Standard Model,” Sakstan concluded. Such discoveries can ultimately shed light on the essence of the universe’s most abundant and mysterious components.

The search for the black dwarf represents a new boundary in stellar astronomy and dark matter research, which has the potential to provide the first direct observational evidence that dark matter particles are characterized by beyond their gravity effects.

Related