HighlY Interactive ParticlE Relics Experiment (HYPER) Model Proposed by Scientists to Explain Dark Matter Formation in Early Universe

The early universe underwent a phase transition that altered the strength of interaction between dark and normal matter. Despite its significance in understanding the universe, dark matter remains an enigma in physics. Evidence of its existence can be seen in the behavior of galaxies, yet it has yet to be directly detected in experiments.

Scientists have proposed new experiments to detect dark matter directly by measuring its scattering from protons and neutrons in a detection medium. A recent proposal by a team of researchers suggests a new candidate for dark matter called HYPER (HighlY Interactive ParticlE Relics). According to the HYPER model, the interaction strength between dark matter and normal matter increased suddenly after the formation of dark matter in the early universe.

This sudden increase in interaction strength makes it more detectable today and can help explain the high abundance of dark matter in the universe. The research community is looking for alternative dark matter particles, particularly lighter ones, as the search for heavy dark matter particles, or WIMPS, has not yet yielded any results.

Detecting the Dark

Phase transitions in the dark sector are expected simultaneously, as there are many in the visible sector, according to the researchers. However, previous research has tended to ignore them. There has not been a consistent dark matter model for the mass range that some planned experiments hope to access. Elor, a postdoctoral researcher in theoretical physics at JGU, stated that their HYPER model shows that a phase transition can help create dark matter that is more easily detectable. The difficulty in finding a suitable model: Contrary to astrophysical observations, dark matter's (exactly known) amount formed in the early universe would be too small if it interacted too strongly with normal matter.

However, if it were produced in just the right amount, the interaction would, on the other hand, be too weak for current experiments to detect dark matter. The HYPER model has based on the central idea that the interaction changes abruptly once, allowing the scientists to achieve the best of both worlds McGeheee emphasized the right amount of dark matter as well as a large interaction so that the scientist might be able to detect it, as reported by SciTech Daily.

The researchers also have this vision: In particle physics, an interaction is typically mediated by a specific particle, or "mediator," just like how dark matter interacts with normal matter. This mediator plays a role in both the formation of dark matter and its detection, and the strength of the interaction is influenced by its mass: The interaction is weaker the larger the mass.

Seagull Nebula. IC 2177 is a region of nebulosity that lies along the border between the constellations Monoceros and Canis Major

(Photo: Getty Images)
Seagull Nebula. IC 2177 is a region of nebulosity that lies along the border between the constellations Monoceros and Canis Major.

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Following the Dark Matter Formation

For dark matter to be detected at all, the mediator needs to be both sufficiently light and heavy. The remedy: Following the formation of dark matter, there was a phase transition in which the mediator's mass suddenly decreased. Pierce said that on the one hand, the amount of dark matter is kept constant, and on the other hand, the interaction is boosted or strengthened so that dark matter should be detectable directly. This means that dark matter should be directly detectable.

Elor also said that the HYPER model of dark matter could cover almost the entire range made accessible by the newer experiments. In particular, the researchers first assumed that the maximum cross-section of the mediator-mediated interaction with an atomic nucleus's protons and neutrons was in line with astronomical observations and particular particle-physics decays. The next step was determining whether this interaction was captured in a dark matter model.

McGehee said that they came up with the idea of the phase transition. After that, the team used calculations to simulate the phase transition and determined how much dark matter is in the universe. A constant amount of dark matter is one of many constraints to consider. Elor concluded that the team has to consider systematically and include very many scenarios, such as asking whether it is certain that their mediator does not suddenly lead to the formation of new dark matter, which obviously must not be. Furthermore, in the end, they were certain that the HYPER model was effective.