Astronomers now suggest that “failed stars” often known as brown dwarfs could possibly be powered by darkish matter. Darkish matter makes up about 85 % of the universe’s matter however doesn’t shine; it interacts solely by way of gravity. Brown dwarfs type like stars however lack sufficient mass to ignite fusion. The speculation suggests brown dwarfs in galaxy facilities may entice darkish matter of their interiors. When that darkish matter annihilates, it releases power that heats the star, turning the dwarf right into a brighter “darkish dwarf.” If such objects exist, discovering them would give scientists a brand new clue to the character of darkish matter.

Darkish Matter in Failed Stars

According to the brand new mannequin, dense brown dwarfs on the facilities of galaxies act like gravity wells that accumulate darkish matter. As a result of darkish matter interacts solely by way of gravity, it naturally drifts to galactic cores, the place it may be captured by star. As College of Hawai‘i physicist Jeremy Sakstein explains, as soon as inside a star darkish matter can annihilate with itself, releasing power that heats the dwarf. The extra darkish matter a brown dwarf collects, the extra power it outputs. Crucially, this impact solely works if darkish matter particles self-annihilate (as with heavy WIMPs); lighter or non-interacting candidates like axions wouldn’t create darkish dwarfs.

They suggest utilizing a chemical signature: a darkish dwarf ought to maintain on to lithium-7 that standard brown dwarfs burn away. The researchers say highly effective telescopes like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope may already be delicate sufficient to identify cool, dim darkish dwarfs close to the Milky Manner’s middle. Detecting even one would strongly recommend that darkish matter is product of heavy, self-interacting particles (like WIMPs).

In associated work, Colgate astrophysicist Jillian Paulin coauthored research of historic “darkish stars” fueled by darkish matter, whereas SLAC physicist Rebecca Leane and collaborators have proven that darkish matter seize may warmth brown dwarfs and exoplanets – a course of known as “darkish kinetic heating”. Collectively, these concepts spotlight how even dim, uncommon stars may illuminate the character of darkish matter.