Astrophysicists from Princeton University and the National Accelerator Laboratory SLAC found possible evidence for the existence of dark matter particles. The results of the study were published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
It is speculated that dark matter may be detected indirectly through the light emitted by the annihilation of colliding hypothetical particles. Scientists say they have detected what they believe may be such light in the outer atmosphere of Jupiter's dark side.
Dark matter particles are thought to be attracted to Jupiter and collide with its ionosphere, producing bursts of ionizing radiation. This radiation should lead to the appearance of an excess of H3+ cations or protonated molecular hydrogen.
The study analyzed data obtained by the Cassini probe's spectrometer over three hours. Infrared observations were made from the night side of the planet over its equatorial region, which made it possible to reduce the influence of auroras. In the data, scientists look for evidence of more radiation from H3+ than can be explained without recourse to the dark matter hypothesis.
Researchers have detected emission from H3+, but it is not yet clear if there is a contribution from dark matter. Astronomers plan to continue their research to confirm whether the radiation is at least in part the result of the annihilation of unknown particles.