Theoretical Physicists say Simple Theory Can Describe Mysterious Dark Matter

Submitted by Raoul Girard on Tue, 06/11/2013 - 07:23

According to theoretical physicists at Vanderbilt University, a simple theory can explain mysterious dark matter. They said most of the matter present in the universe may be constructed of particles that have an abnormal, donut-shaped electromagnetic field known as an anapole.

Professor Robert Scherrer and post-doctoral fellow Chiu Man Ho from Vanderbilt University conducted a study to determine the veracity of this theory.

Scherrer said that the best thing he liked about this theory is its simplicity. Also, it is unique and can be tested. According to Space. com, nearly 80% of all the matter in the universe is made up of dark matter.

Physicists cannot observe dark matter directly because it does not emit light or energy. Majorana fermion is a basic particle being suggested by Scherrer and Ho to construct the dark matter. The particle's existence was predicted in 1930's.

Scherrer said, "Most models for dark matter assume that it interacts through exotic forces that we do not encounter in everyday life. Anapole dark matter makes use of ordinary electromagnetism that you learned about in school".

The model helps in making specific predictions about the rate at which it will appear in the vast dark matterdetectors. As a result of the predictions, the existence of anapole dark matter should be either discovered or ruled out by these experiments.