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Physicists claim that they may have found a long -awaited explanation for dark energy, the mysterious power that moves the accelerated expansion of the universe, a new re -exploration of the study.
Their calculations suggest that on the smallest scale, the space is kept in a deep quantum way, differently drastically from the smooth, continuous structure we experience in everyday life. According to their discoveries, the coordinates of space time do not “travel” that the order in which they appear in equations affects the result. This is similar to how the position and speed of the particle hold Quantum mechanicsS
One of the most striking consequences of this quantum space as provided by Stringsis that this naturally leads to cosmic acceleration. Moreover, researchers find that the speed at which this acceleration decreases over time is significantly well -groomed with the most observations of the spectroscopic instrument of dark energy (DESI).
“Viewed through the lens of our work, you can remember The result of desi As the first observation evidence to support strings theory and perhaps the first observed consequences of strings theory and quantum gravity, “co -author of the study Michael CavicProfessor at Suny Old Westbury, told Live Science by email.
The mystery of the expansion of the universe
In 1998, two independent teams, Supernova’s cosmological project and the Supernova High-Z-Z-Z search team, revealed that the expansion of the universe did not slow, as it was thought earlier, but instead accelerated. They came to this conclusion by studying distant supernovae that looked more glorious than expected. This acceleration suggested the presence of a mysterious entity penetrating into space, later called dark energyS
Related: “The universe has thrown us a crooked ball: the largest space card so far reveals that we may have received the dark energy completely wrong
However, the origin of dark energy remains elusive. A popular hypothesis suggests that it arises from quantum fluctuations in the vacuum, similar to those observed in the electromagnetic field. Yet, when physicists tried to calculate the expansion rate based on this idea, they came to a value that was 120 orders of order, too big – a stunning discrepancy.
Recent observations of DESI further complicate the picture. According to A standard model of elementary particlesIf the dark energy was just a vacuum energy, its density should remain constant over time. However, DESI data shows that the speed of acceleration is not fixed, but that it decreases over time – something that the standard model does not predict.
The external view of the dark energy spectroscopic instrument (DESI), mounted on the 4-meter Mayall telescope at the National Whale Peak Observatory in Arizona. | Credit: Desi
Solve the mystery with strings theory
In order to deal with these discrepancies, the researchers turned to the theory of string, one of the leading candidates for quantum theory of gravity. Unlike the standard model, which treats elementary particles as a point -like, strings theory suggests that they are actually small, vibrating, one -dimensional objects called strings. These strings, depending on their vibration regimes, give rise to different particles – including gravitone, the hypothetical quantum carrier of gravityS
In a new Paper This was published in the ARXIV preliminary database, but not reviewed, physicists Sunhang Hur, Djordje Minic, Tatsu Takeuchi (Virginia Tech), Vishnu Jejjala (University of the Witwatersrand) and Michael Cavich
Changing the description of the particles of the standard model with the frame of strings theory, the researchers have found that space-time itself is inherently quantum and non-communist, which means order in which the coordinates appear in the equations.
This radical deviation from classical physics allowed them to extract the properties of dark energy not only from experimental data, but also directly from fundamental physical theory. Their model not only gave a dark density of energy, which closely corresponds to the observation data, but also correctly predicts that this energy must decrease over time by aligning it to DESI’s findings.
One of the most conversional aspects of their result is that the value of dark energy depends on two significantly different lengths of length: the length of the PLANCK, the main scale of quantum gravity, which is about 10⁻³ table; And the size of the universe, which is billions of light years. A similar connection between the smallest and largest scale in space is extremely unusual in physics and suggests that dark energy is deeply bound by the quantum nature of space-time itself.
“This hints at a deeper connection between quantum gravity and the dynamic properties of nature, which were to be constant,” Cavic said. “It may be that the main misunderstanding we carry with us is that the main determining properties of our universe are static when they are not really.”
Experimental tests and future prospects
Although the explanation of the accelerated expansion of the universe is an important theoretical breakthrough, independent experimental tests are needed to confirm their model. Researchers have suggested specific ways to test their ideas.
A line of evidence “involves detecting complex quantum interference models, which is impossible in standard quantum physics, but should appear in quantum gravity,” MINIC added.
The interference occurs when the waves, such as light or matter, overlap and either enhance or cancel each other, creating characteristic patterns. In conventional quantum mechanics, intervention follows the well -understood rules, usually involving two or more possible quantum roads. However, the intervention of a higher order-predict than some quantum gravity models-more complex interactions that go beyond these standard models. The detection of such effects in the laboratory would be an innovative quantum gravity test.
“These are board experiments that could be carried out in the near future – within three to four years.”
“There are many consequences of our approach to quantum gravity,” said Djordje minicA physicist at Virginia Tech and co -author of paper, in an email. A line of evidence “involves detecting complex quantum interference models, which is impossible in standard quantum physics, but should appear in quantum gravity,” MINIC added.
The interference occurs when the waves, such as light or matter, overlap and either enhance or cancel each other, creating characteristic patterns. In conventional quantum mechanics, intervention follows the well -understood rules. However, some quantum gravity models suggest more complex interactions that go beyond these standard models. The detection of such effects in the laboratory would be an innovative quantum gravity test.
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“These are board experiments that could be carried out in the near future – within three to four years.”
Meanwhile, researchers are not waiting for experimental confirmations. They continue to improve their understanding of quantum space-time, as well as to explore additional paths to test their theory.
If confirmed, their discoveries will mark a major breakthrough not only in the explanation of dark energy, but also in the provision of the first tangible evidence of strings theory-a dedicated goal in basic physics.