NASA՚s Chandra Satellite Detects Distinct X-Ray Signal

US space agency NASA՚s Chandra X - Ray Observatory detected a very strange and distinctive X - ray signal from Milky Way galaxy. This observation can help scientists in proving existence of dark matter in universe. Researchers observed extra photons with energy of about 3500 electron volts in spectra.

Dark Matter Makes up More Than 80% of Mass in Universe

Highlights

  • Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Yale Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in US, analyzed energy spectrum of X - rays.
  • It is observed extra photons with energy of about 3500 electron volts in spectra.
  • While probing spectrum, researchers concluded that production of X - ray photons with particular energy level could have been result of decay of dark matter.

Background

  • Scientists have recorded such energy levels in past, but they were not sure that bump or line created by photons was just an instrumental artefact or something else.
  • As per researchers, around 80 percent mass of universe is made up of dark matter itself.
  • As per its name, matter is dark and cannot be seen.
  • However, scientists have felt its presence through gravitational tug it exerts on stars within galaxies.
  • For years, physicists have been trying to detect particles of dark matter directly by intercepting those using instruments on Earth.
  • It is this latest research that targets relatively light particles of dark matter.

About NASA՚s Chandra X - ray Observatory

Illustration of Chandra X-Ray Observatory
  • Launch date: July 23,1999
  • Name: Advanced X - ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF)
  • Mission type: X - ray astronomy
  • It is a telescope specially designed to detect X - ray emission from very hot regions of Universe like exploded stars, clusters of galaxies, and matter around black holes.
  • As X - rays are absorbed by Earth՚s atmosphere, therefore Chandra is positioned above Earth՚s atmosphere up to an altitude of 139000 km in space.
  • Smithsonian՚s Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge controls Chandra՚s science and flight operations.
  • Instruments
    • ACIS: Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer
    • HRC: High Resolution Camera
    • HETG: High Energy Transmission Grating
    • LETG: Low Energy Transmission Grating
About NASA՚s Chandra X-Ray Observatory

Examrace Team at Mar 16, 2017