UC Irvine study bolsters dark matter existence theory

UC Irvine study bolsters dark matter existence theory
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 30, 2024

Astronomers from the University of California, Irvine have used computer simulations to support the existence of dark matter, a critical component thought necessary to explain various cosmic phenomena. These simulations contribute to the ongoing debate about whether the universe's workings can be solely attributed to observable matter or if invisible elements like dark matter are required.

Francisco Mercado, lead author and recent Ph.D. graduate from UC Irvine's Department of Physics and Astronomy, emphasized the significance of their approach. "Our paper shows how we can use real, observed relationships as a basis to test two different models to describe the universe," said Francisco Mercado. The study involved simulating both dark and normal matter to identify features in galaxies that are consistent with a dark matter universe.

These findings, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomy Society, indicate certain galactic features that align with the dark matter theory. "The features in galaxies the team found are expected to appear in a universe with dark matter but would be difficult to explain in a universe without it," said Mercado, suggesting a strong endorsement for the dark matter model.

James Bullock, professor of physics at UCI and dean of the UCI School of Physical Sciences, further supported the findings. "What we showed is that not only does dark matter predict the relationship, but for many galaxies it can explain what we see more naturally than modified gravity. I come away even more convinced that dark matter is the right model," said James Bullock.

Co-author Jorge Moreno, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Pomona College, discussed the observational support for their simulations. "The observations we examined were conducted by adherents of dark matter-free theories. Despite their obvious presence, little-to-no analysis was performed on these features by that community. It took folks like us, scientists working with both regular and dark matter, to start the conversation," said Jorge Moreno.

The team plans to explore whether these relationships can help distinguish between different dark matter models, potentially offering new insights into its properties.

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