The researchers believe they have been able to identify a way to explain the existence of
dark matter, suggesting that its particle is linked to the fifth dimension.
Although the idea of the existence of the concept of "warped extra dimension" (WED) belongs to a well-known physical model first proposed in 1999, a recent study published in the European Physical Journal C applies this concept for the first time to analyze the dark matter problem from a particle physics perspective.
The modern understanding of
Universe is based on the hypothesis of the existence of dark matter, which is the overwhelming part of all existing matter. It acts as a kind of "invisible helper", allowing to explain the mechanisms of gravitational interaction.
Without this "elusive component," many structures simply could not exist. However, dark matter remains a mystery: it does not interact with ordinary particles that can be observed or felt, which implies unique properties.
"There remain questions within the Standard Model of physics that have not yet been answered," report the authors of a new study from Spain and Germany. "One of the most important examples is the hierarchy problem of why the mass of the Higgs boson is much smaller than the characteristic scale of gravity. In addition to this, the standard model is unable to explain some observed phenomena. One of them is the existence of dark matter."
The researchers proposed to use the WED model to describe the nature of dark matter. They focused on the study of the masses of mysterious particles - fermions, which are believed to be able to move into the fifth dimension through special portals. This phenomenon may explain the appearance of dark matter relics and the formation of so-called "fermionic dark matter" in the fifth dimension.
Could such fermion traveling across dimensions shed light on the nature of dark matter? The researchers note: "The standard model of physics lacks a suitable candidate for the role of dark matter, indicating the need to develop new approaches in physics."
In fact, the mathematical model demonstrates the possibility of massive fermions forming in the curved space of the fifth dimension. This "dark sector" can explain a huge amount of dark matter, which still remains undetected by standard observational methods.
Once through portals into a warped dimension, fermions can acquire the properties of dark matter.
How can such a phenomenon be detected? At the moment, this task remains difficult and unsolvable for most theories related to dark matter. However, to detect "fermionic dark matter" in the area of the so-called fifth dimension would require a gravitational wave detector, the technology of which is rapidly improving around the world.
It is likely that the solution to one of the most difficult mysteries of physics is near and waiting to be solved.