Study Demonstrates Stability of Dark Atom Bound States with Nuclei Via Self-consistent Electromagnetic-nuclear Couplings
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The search for dark matter faces a significant challenge in directly detecting these elusive particles, but a compelling new approach proposes that dark matter exists as composite ‘dark atoms’. T. E. Bikbaev, M. Yu. Khlopov from the Virtual Institute of Astroparticle Physics, and A. G. Mayorov investigate a crucial question concerning the stability of these dark atoms, specifically how their interaction with atomic nuclei might cause them to break apart.
The team develops a sophisticated computational method to model this interaction, accounting for both electromagnetic and nuclear forces, and demonstrates that stable ‘bound states’ can indeed form between dark atoms and nuclei. This achievement is significant because it strengthens the dark atom hypothesis and offers a potential explanation for puzzling experimental results, such as the annual modulation signals detected in the DAMA/LIBRA experiment, ultimately paving the way for more effective dark matter detection strategies. Dark Atoms and Nucleus Interaction Potential Scientists developed a detailed quantum mechanical model to explain how dark matter, specifically hypothesized dark atoms (OHe), interacts with ordinary atomic nuclei, aiming to provide a theoretical framework consistent with the annual modulation signal observed in direct dark matter detection experiments.
The team’s calculations reveal that stable ‘bound states’ can indeed form between dark atoms and nuclei, strengthening the dark atom hypothesis and offering a potential explanation for puzzling experimental results, based on the idea that dark matter isn’t composed of weakly interacting massive particles, but complex structures. By solving the three-body Schrödinger equation, scientists determined the effective interaction potential between the OHe dark atom and a sodium nucleus, crucial for understanding the interaction dynamics, revealing a single bound state within the 1-6 keV energy range, corresponding to a binding energy of -2 keV, modeled through a radiative capture process where the dark atom captures the nucleus, emitting gamma radiation. This calculated capture rate closely aligns with the annual modulation signal observed by the DAMA experiments, supporting the X-helium dark atom hypothesis. XHe Binding to Nuclei via Quantum Calculations Scientists developed a novel numerical quantum mechanical approach to investigate the binding of composite dark atoms, specifically X-helium (XHe), to atomic nuclei, addressing a critical issue in the direct detection of dark matter, centered on the hypothesis that dark matter consists of electrically neutral, atom-like systems formed by combining negatively charged particles with helium-4 nuclei. Researchers established a key parameter to quantify the ratio of the XHe atom’s Bohr radius to the radius of the helium nucleus, characterizing the structural properties of the bound system, dictating whether the XHe atom adopts a Thomson-like or Bohr-like atomic structure. The study reconstructed the effective interaction potential between XHe and nuclei, accounting for dipole Coulomb barriers and shallow potential wells, to demonstrate the formation of bound states and modulate low-energy capture processes, revealing that when the Bohr radius of XHe is less than the helium nucleus radius, the system conforms to a Bohr atom picture, with the helium nucleus orbiting a central X particle. Conversely, when the Bohr radius exceeds the helium nucleus radius, the system adopts a Thomson-like structure, where the helium nucleus undergoes oscillatory motion around the heavier X particle. This detailed analysis of nuclear interactions is crucial for evaluating the contribution of X-helium to primordial nucleosynthesis, stellar evolution, and other cosmological phenomena, ultimately advancing the theoretical foundation for understanding dark matter interactions.
Superheavy Sodium Isotopes Signal Dark Atom Capture Scientists have developed a novel numerical method to model interactions between dark matter candidates and ordinary matter, specifically addressing the potential instability of composite dark atoms, centered on the “X-helium” hypothesis, proposing that dark matter is composed of atoms consisting of a helium nucleus and an unknown particle.
The team’s calculations demonstrate the formation of bound states between X-helium and nuclei, a crucial step in explaining observed signals, revealing that capturing a dark atom into a bound state with a nucleus releases energy in the range of 2-4 keV, detectable as an ionization signal. The model predicts that this capture process results in the formation of anomalous, superheavy isotopes of sodium within detectors, exceeding the mass of standard sodium isotopes by approximately the mass of the ‘X’ particle, with analogous superheavy isotopes of iodine and thallium being improbable, suggesting a unique interaction with sodium. Measurements confirm that these anomalous sodium atoms exhibit drastically reduced mobility, approximately nine orders of magnitude lower than ordinary helium, leading to their accumulation within detector materials, offering a potential independent verification of the X-helium hypothesis through mass spectroscopic examination. The theoretical framework predicts an energy release predominantly above 2. 6 keV in detector materials, while a signal may be absent in detectors utilizing heavy target nuclei like xenon, with a specific effective interaction potential, featuring both a repulsive barrier and a shallow potential well, being critical for stabilizing the dark atom and preventing its dissociation. This potential arises from the interplay between electromagnetic repulsion and attractive nuclear forces, with the capture mechanism involving the polarization of the dark atom by an approaching nucleus, leading to the formation of a low-energy bound state and the release of energy corresponding to the binding energy within the potential well.
Dark Atom Nucleus Interaction Potential Revealed This research presents a detailed quantum mechanical model describing the interaction between dark atoms, specifically oxygen-helium composites, and atomic nuclei, addressing a key challenge in the direct detection of dark matter. Through numerical solutions of the Schrödinger equation, scientists reconstructed the effective interaction potential between these dark atoms and nuclei, revealing a configuration comprising a shallow potential well and a repulsive barrier, ensuring the stability of the dark atom while allowing for the formation of low-energy bound states through radiative capture processes. Calculations demonstrate the existence of a single bound state within the 1-6 keV energy range for the oxygen-helium, sodium system, with a binding energy of approximately 2 keV, aligning with the annual modulation signal observed in experiments like DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA, providing strong support for the X-helium dark atom hypothesis.
The team acknowledges that the current model treats interacting particles as point-like and suggests future research should explore the impact of internal structure on the calculated capture rates and extend the analysis to different detector materials. 👉 More information 🗞 The bound state of dark atom with the nucleus of substance 🧠 ArXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.08718 Tags: