A team of physicists from Spain’s Autonomous University of Madrid and Germany’s Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have proposed a groundbreaking theory linking dark matter to a hypothetical fifth dimension. This innovative approach aims to solve one of the most enduring mysteries of the cosmos.
Dark matter, which makes up approximately 27% of the universe’s mass-energy density, is essential for understanding the cosmos. However, its presence cannot be directly observed or detected through traditional particle physics experiments. The scientists’ research introduces a framework connecting dark matter with the warped extra dimension (WED) model, first introduced in 1999.
The WED model posits the existence of an additional spatial dimension that is “warped” in its geometry. Building on this concept, the researchers explored how fermions – fundamental particles that constitute matter – might interact with the extra dimension. They propose that fermions could enter the fifth dimension through quantum portals, resulting in the formation of dark matter relics.
The key insights from the study include:
* The mechanism by which fermions interact with the fifth dimension generate “bulk masses” in the warped space, potentially explaining the massive presence of dark matter.
* The fifth dimension acts as a hidden realm, harboring dark matter that cannot be detected using standard model physics but influences observable phenomena through gravity.
The scientists’ novel framework provides a unified explanation for the presence of dark matter while addressing unresolved questions in particle physics. However, observational proof remains elusive, and gravitational wave detectors are seen as the most promising tools for validating this model.
While the theory is still speculative, it highlights the need to expand our theoretical frameworks and experimental techniques to probe the unknown. The study was published in The European Physical Journal C.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2024/12/scientists-say-they-might-have-discovered-a-portal-to-the-fifth-dimension