A team of astronomers led by Dr. Valentina Crespi suggests that a self-gravitating fermionic dark matter object could be responsible for the motions of stars near the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, challenging the long-held idea of a supermassive black hole. Instead, they propose a compact, dense core surrounded by a vast halo, which together mimic the gravitational pull of a black hole and explain observed stellar orbits.
According to their research using data from ESA’s Gaia DR3 mission, this dark matter model provides a unified framework that explains both the Galactic center (central stars and shadow) and the Galaxy at large. The team’s work strengthens the fermionic model by highlighting key structural differences between traditional Cold Dark Matter halos and their own proposed tighter structure.
The researchers have already passed a significant test with previous studies, demonstrating that their dark matter core can mimic the shadow-like feature seen in images of Sagittarius A*. However, more precise data from future instruments will be crucial to test the predictions of this new model. If confirmed, these findings could potentially reshape our understanding of the fundamental nature of the cosmic behemoth at the heart of the Milky Way.
Source: https://www.sci.news/astronomy/milky-ways-compact-object-fermionic-dark-matter-14537.html