Deep in the cosmos, a peculiar star system raises more questions than answers. Captured by the European Space Agency’s Gaia satellite, the system may not be a simple case of a star orbiting a black hole as previously thought, but rather a rare phenomenon involving invisible dark matter.
InShort:
Astronomers studying a peculiar star system suggest its mysterious companion could be a boson star, a clump of dark matter particles. This invisible entity’s existence, yet to be verified, challenges our understanding of the universe and could unlock secrets of the enigmatic dark matter that forms the backbone of every galaxy.
A Cosmic Oddity
A celestial pair, comprising a sun-like star and a much more massive companion, presents an enigma. Orbiting each other at a distance similar to that between Mars and the Sun, the duo completes an orbit every 188 days. The larger entity weighs approximately 11 solar masses, raising curiosity about its identity.
Beyond Black Holes
Could the dark companion be a black hole? The simple answer seems satisfactory, but it presents complications. The formation of a black hole requires the death of a colossal star. A Sun-like star forming in companionship with such a giant seems unlikely and would necessitate an exceptional degree of fine-tuning.
Stepping into the Unknown
Researchers propose an alternative hypothesis: the dark companion could be a boson star, a clump of dark matter particles. This invisible form of matter contributes to the majority of a galaxy’s mass. The concept of boson stars originates from models suggesting dark matter as a new kind of boson – particles responsible for carrying forces of nature.
Boson Stars: Into the Invisible
Unlike traditional bosons, these hypothetical particles won’t carry forces. Still, they could form substantial clumps – some as massive as star systems, others as small as stars. Boson stars would be invisible, detectable only through their gravitational influence on surrounding objects.
Seeking Evidence
An interpretation of the Gaia data suggests that a boson star could explain the observational data. However, further observations are required to confirm this extraordinary proposition.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/
Research Scopes
This unique star system may unlock new research avenues, allowing us to scrutinize Einstein’s theory of general relativity under the lens of strong gravity. Should the dark companion indeed be a boson star, we could refine our models and improve our understanding of the universe’s dark corners.