Gravitational collapse gives rise to primordial naked singularities that may have implications for the present universe, including those on dark matter vis-à-vis primordial black holes, reveals research conducted jointly by Professor Pankaj Joshi, Distinguished Professor of Physics and Founding Director of the International Centre for Space and Cosmology at Ahmedabad University, and Professor Sudip Bhattacharyya, of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
This breakthrough research on dark matter also garnered the attention of the renowned German theoretical physicist and author, Sabine Hossenfelder, who discussed the idea in detail on her eponymous YouTube channel. Widely watched and respected, the channel regularly features science and technology updates.
In the segment on the concerned research, Hossenfelder elucidates its key findings and methodologies, as well as the concomitant implications for the universe and other studies conducted in this domain. The video also provides insights into the significance of naked singularities in understanding dark matter.
Naked singularities differ from black holes in that the latter comprise impenetrable horizons, which one can enter but never come out of, thus making it impossible to see what lies inside. In contrast, the plain view offered by naked singularities, not hidden by any horizon, can add insights and value to the research.
The new hypothesis associated with the research also points to the emergence of a multitude of naked singularities in the primordial chaos of the early universe, thereby altering the cosmic landscape.
“Recent advancements in precision cosmology now enable a realistic exploration of these naked singularities, constraining them through cosmological perturbation theory. Consequently, investigating Primordial Naked Singularities in the early universe is poised to become crucial in the times ahead. A particularly intriguing outcome of this research is the suggestion that primordial naked singularities in the early universe could play a role in the formation of dark matter”, stated Professor Joshi.
This percipient discussion on Hossenfelder's YouTube channel foregrounds the research pursuits of faculty at Ahmedabad University, sparking engaging conversations and fostering intellectual exchange in the course of their innovative research.