Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.

By Alton Parrish (Reporter)
Contributor profile | More stories

Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Searching for the Ingredients Of Dark Matter And Dark Energy

Friday, August 21, 2015 5:02

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

Two new reports advance efforts to identify components of dark matter and energy, which together comprise about 95% of the universe yet leave much to scientists’ imaginations. Both experiments illustrate how basic questions about the universe’s development can be addressed by laboratory-scale experiments.

In the first report, Elana Aprileand colleagues – members of the XENON Collaboration – report on their search for dark matter, a hypothetical matter, the existence of which is inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter. While gravitational processes have been thought to involve standard model particles like neutrinos and photons, more recent studies of the physical processes forming our universe suggest new particle types – like WIMPs (or weakly interacting massive particles) – are involved.

This is an artists’ impression of the experiment. The conditions in the vacuum chamber and the use of individual atoms (violet dots) as probes simulate the conditions in empty space for the search for dark energy.

Credit: Simca Bouma

Experiments that test this notion look at how these proposed dark matter particles interact with standard particle types; for example, when WIMPs and standard model particles interact, they create recoiling charged particles visible in detectors like the underground XENON100 detector located in Italy. Here, Aprile and colleagues used this instrument, a large tank of liquid xenon that forms a target for WIMPs, to detect distinct signals from recoil. With no evidence for particular signals, their results set limits on several types of dark matter candidates that have been proposed.

This is a photograph of the setup. The sphere at the center is about 25 mm in diameter. The experiment measures the force between it and atoms (invisible) on top of the sphere.

Credit: Holger Mueller

Paul Hamilton et al. searched for a hypothetical force called a chameleon field, one of the most prominent candidates for dark energy – a force thought to have propelled the expansion of the universe. For about a decade, scientists have been looking for a chameleon field, which modifies the wave functions of matter. Here, in searching for a source for these fields, Hamilton et al. used a light-pulse atom interferometer. Their experiments greatly constrain existing theories of dark energy. A Perspective by Jörg Schmiedmayer and Hartmut Abele provides additional insights into both reports, which tackle some of the most pressing issues of current physics.

Contacts and sources:

Natasha Pinol

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Citation: Article #13: “Atom-interferometry constraints on dark energy,” by P. Hamilton; M. Jaffe; P. Haslinger; Q. Simmons; H. Müller at University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, CA; H. Müller at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, CA; J. Khoury at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.

Source:

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

LION'S MANE PRODUCT

Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules

Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.

Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.

Comments

Visits:	1,707,714,656
Stories:	8,448,379