Two scientist exact to have found evidence of something equally distributed throughout the universe polarise the afterglow of the Big Bang . If the effect is real it will force a radical readjustment of many of the things physicists think they know , and possibly give us our first real insight into the nature of dark vim . For the moment , however , most cosmologists who have point out consider the evidence interesting , butnot strong enoughto get really excited .
Theoretical physicist have toyed with the musical theme of aquintessence , an alien substance sort of like an updated version of theetherwhose derangement revolutionise Einstein ’s uncovering of theory of relativity . The ether is propose to live throughout the universe , rather than being clumped in Galax urceolata like both seeable anddark subject , and might be an explanation fordark energy .
Within galaxies , the effects of a quintessence would be almost unimaginable to spot , because everything else would overwhelm its influence . therefore , a good place to depend for it is in the cosmic microwave oven desktop ( CMB ) radioactivity , the ancient twinkle leave over from the Big Bang . Given the huge distance it has trip to get to us , the CMB has had more chance to be affected by something evenly pass out through the universe than anything else we can canvas . Now a paper inPhysical Review Lettersclaims to have found something is twist the CMB , and dark energy might be it .
Astronomers have examined the CMB for signs of a variety in the slant of polarisation induced by anything it has passed in its travels , known as the cosmic double refraction angle ( β ) . Under the stock model of particle physics β should be zero . If it ’s anything else it means something is twisting the CMB , the standard mannequin need reworking , and we might even have found dark-skinned energy .
CMB measurements have produce estimate of β that are n’t zero , but with margins of computer error big enough that β=0 is a distinct possibility . An error in measure well within expected uncertainties seems a much safer explanation than something that overthrows the standard fashion model . However , Dr Yuto Minamiof Japan ’s High Energy Accelerator Organization andProfessor Eiichiro Komatsuof the Max Plank Institute for Astrophysics claim to have narrowed the dubiety to the point where β=0 now falls outside them .
Minami and Komatsu correlated CMB mensuration by thePlank Space Telescopewith polarization from dust within our galaxy , for which β should be insignificant . This style they exact to have transfer taxonomic errors in Plank ’s observe gadget ( since these would apply to the local informant as well ) , halve the uncertainty in estimation of β in the process . As a final result they claim a 99.2 pct self-confidence that β is not zero ( their estimate is 0.35±0.14 degrees ) .
If it exists the quintessence would certainly take some explaining , and the most exciting possibility is that it is dark energy , the inscrutable force pushing the universe to enlarge ever faster . Two decade after moody energy ’s existence was confirmed we ’ve see almost nothing more about what it is or how it behaves .
Professor Sean Carrollof the California Institute of Technology aim using CMB polarization to test for ether in 1998 . In response to Minami and Komatsu ’s work Carroll toldNature Newsif dark DOE is a ether it will challenge our assumption about it and “ We ’re back to a situation where we have zero theme about how the Universe is run to end . ”
However , even the generator are conservative . “It is decipherable that we have not set up classical evidence for new physics yet ; high statistical import is needed to confirm this signaling , ” Prof. Komatsu say in astatement .
