According to a new theory, we've been looking for dark matter the wrong way.

But the York researchers say the light may change its color slightly depending on the type of dark matter it encounters. If this theory is confirmed, this effect could provide a new way to study the hidden component that makes up most of the universe.

Scientists from the University of York propose a new theory that dark matter, long thought to be completely invisible, subtly “colors” light reddish or bluish as it passes through regions rich in it – thus leaving a detectable “fingerprint.”

Dark matter, which makes up most of the universe, may not be completely invisible. According to new research from the University of York, this mysterious substance may leave a slight red or blue tint on light passing through regions where dark matter is present, creating a measurable signature.

Until now, researchers believed that dark matter could not interact with light, and could only be detected through its gravitational influence that shapes and stabilizes galaxies.

But the York researchers say that light may change its color slightly depending on the type of dark matter it encounters. If this theory is confirmed, this effect could provide a new way to study the hidden component that makes up most of the cosmos.

The theoretical study uses the idea of ​​the “six degrees of separation rule” – the assumption that every two people on Earth are connected through a small number of mutual acquaintances. The researchers argue that a similar chain of connections exists between particles.

The particle connection

Even if dark matter does not react to light directly, it may affect it indirectly through other particles. For example, some dark matter candidates, known as weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), can “connect” to light through a series of intermediary particles such as the Higgs boson and the top quark.

Dr Mikhail Bashkanov from the University of York's School of Physics, Engineering and Technology said: "This is quite an unusual question in the scientific world, because most researchers would agree that dark matter is dark, but we have shown that even the darkest kind of dark matter imaginable can still have a kind of colour signature. It's a fascinating idea, and what's even more exciting is that under certain conditions this 'colour' might be detectable. With the right next-generation telescopes, we could measure it. This means that astronomy could teach us something completely new about the nature of dark matter, and make the search for it much easier."

Testing the theory

The study describes how these indirect interactions between particles could be tested in future experiments. This could help researchers rule out some dark matter theories and focus on others. Therefore, the researchers say, it is important to consider these possibilities when designing future generations of telescopes.

Understanding dark matter remains one of the greatest challenges in modern physics. The next step in the work will be to verify the findings, which could offer a new way to search for matter that has so far only been detected through its gravity.

Dr. Bashkanov added: “Today, billions are being invested in building experiments of various types – some looking for WIMPs, others for axions or dark photons. Our results show that we can narrow down where and how to look in the sky, save time and focus efforts.”

for the scientific article

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