A research team has found indirect evidence for the presence of dark matter around black holes.

The scientists studied two nearby black holes, A0620-00 and XTE J1118+480, which are considered binary systems; this means their orbits are warped at about 1 ms per year, 50 times higher than theoretical estimates.

Thanks to the dynamic friction model and computer simulations, the researchers were able to detect, as they say, signs of dark matter around black holes. Applying this theory, they found that the fast orbital warping of companion stars matched exactly with the observations. In this way, they obtained indirect evidence that dark matter around black holes can generate a significant amount of dynamic friction that slows the rotation rate of companion stars.

What gives a new discovery?

This discovery confirms a theoretical hypothesis formulated at the end of the 20th century and can be considered a landmark in the study of dark matter. The hypothesis suggests that at fairly close range from a black hole, dark matter must be absorbed and the remnants redistributed. As a result of this process, a “density increase” forms around black holes, creating a high-density dark matter that creates dynamic drag on the companion star, similar to a braking force.

This is the first study to use the dynamic friction model, which attempts to confirm and prove the existence of dark matter around black holes. This work opens an important new direction in the study of dark matter,
– said lead researcher Chan Manyo

The discovery could have far-reaching implications for cosmology, as black holes could be the source of dark energy in the universe. The first proof of this hypothesis appeared in February of this year. If the research is approved, it could revolutionize cosmology, as scientists will finally get an answer to the question of the origin of dark energy.