New results from the international Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration, which includes researchers from Harvard, suggest that dark energy, widely thought to be a “cosmological constant,” might be weakening over time. This suggests the standard model of how the universe works may need an update.
The fate of the universe hinges on the balance between matter and dark energy, which is the force thought to be driving the universe’s accelerating expansion. DESI tracks dark energy’s influence by studying how matter is spread across the universe. The new analysis, using the largest 3D map of our universe ever made, looked at dark energy’s influence over the past 11 billion years.
The results, using the first three years of collected DESI data, were announced in a March 19 press release from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Events in the very early universe left subtle patterns in how matter is distributed, a feature called Baryon Acoustic Oscillations. That pattern acts as a standard ruler, with its size at different times directly affected by how the universe is expanding. Measuring the ruler at different distances shows researchers the strength of dark energy throughout history.
Combining the data of more than 14 million galaxies and quasars with the results from other experiments, scientists have stronger evidence that the impact of dark energy may be evolving in unexpected ways.
The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) researchers, led by Harvard Professor Daniel Eisenstein and his group, were crucial contributors to the DESI collaboration in multiple ways, including co-developing algorithms and simulations that led to the latest results.
Cristhian Garcia Quintero is one of the collaboration leads on the cosmological interpretations of the results. Michael Rashkovetskyi performed calculations that are critical for the distance measurements. Claire Lamman is the co-chair of the DESI education and public outreach committee and helped create the visual material for the public. Eisenstein served as co-spokesperson of the collaboration from 2014 to 2020.
DESI involves more than 900 researchers from over 70 institutions around the world and is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Berkeley Lab. The collaboration shared its findings in multiple papers to be posted on the online repository arXiv and in a presentation at the American Physical Society’s Global Physics Summit in Anaheim, California.
Alongside unveiling its latest dark energy results at the summit, the DESI collaboration also announced that its Data Release 1 is now available for anyone to explore. With detailed information on many millions of celestial objects, the data set will support a wide range of astrophysical research at CfA and elsewhere.
In addition to contributing to DESI’s cosmology goals, CfA researchers are using the collaboration to study galaxy evolution, the cosmic web, and the structure of the Milky Way. The DESI survey continues each clear night, extending its map of the cosmos and giving astronomers a continually improving view of the physics of the Universe.
How does the DESI project utilize Baryon Acoustic oscillations to understand the influence of dark energy over cosmic history?
Table of Contents
- 1. How does the DESI project utilize Baryon Acoustic oscillations to understand the influence of dark energy over cosmic history?
- 2. Interview: Unveiling the Mysteries of Dark Energy with Dr. Aris Thorne
- 3. Exploring the Evolution of Dark Energy
- 4. Data and Collaboration: A Giant Leap
- 5. The Future of Cosmic Research
Interview: Unveiling the Mysteries of Dark Energy with Dr. Aris Thorne
Archyde News Editor: Welcome, dr. Thorne, and thank you for joining us today. We’re thrilled to delve into the latest findings from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration.
dr. aris thorne (Lead Cosmologist, DESI Project): Thank you for having me. I’m excited to discuss these groundbreaking results.
Exploring the Evolution of Dark Energy
Archyde News Editor: The recent declaration suggests that dark energy might be weakening, which challenges the conventional understanding. Can you briefly explain the importance of this finding?
Dr. Aris Thorne: Certainly. for a long time, we’ve considered dark energy, the force driving the universe’s accelerating expansion, as a constant. However, our latest data, using DESI’s 3D map of the cosmos, hints that its influence may be changing over time.If true, this implies our standard model of cosmology might need a major revision.
Archyde News editor: The DESI project relies on some incredibly sophisticated techniques. Could you elaborate on how DESI tracks dark energy’s influence across such vast distances and time?
Dr. Aris Thorne: Absolutely. We analyze the distribution of matter in the universe.Specifically, we look at baryon Acoustic Oscillations – these are patterns left over from the early universe, acting as a “standard ruler”. By measuring how this ruler’s size changes over cosmic history using this ruler, we can infer the strength of dark energy’s effects at different points in time.
Data and Collaboration: A Giant Leap
Archyde News Editor: One of the key aspects of this research is the collaboration. DESI is a massive undertaking, isn’t it?
Dr. Aris Thorne: Yes, it is a truly collaborative effort. Over 900 researchers from over 70 institutions worldwide are involved. Our newest findings, drawn from the first three years of DESI data, offer strong and compelling evidence. The data contains measurements of over 14 million galaxies and quasars.
Archyde News Editor: With the release of Data Release 1,the public is now able to participate in the discovery process and explore DESI’s data. How do you envision this data aiding future research?
Dr. Aris Thorne: Data Release 1 is a meaningful moment. It’s an invitation for the broader scientific community to explore this rich data set. We hope this will not only deepen our understanding of dark energy but also lead to breakthroughs in areas like galaxy evolution and the structure of the cosmos.
The Future of Cosmic Research
Archyde News Editor: Given that the data suggests dark energy is evolving, this means the future of our universe is quite uncertain. What would this model suggest?
Dr. Aris Thorne: The implications are profound. The traditional model, with a constant dark energy, predicts a continued acceleration. If dark energy is weakening, the universe’s expansion might slow, or even reverse, leading to a very different ultimate fate.This could fundamentally change our understanding of cosmic timescales. We are actively working on extending the dataset, and it’s likely the picture will become more clear through continued research.
Archyde News Editor: That’s certainly a captivating prospect. Regarding this shift, is there an aspect of these findings that might surprise people?
Dr.Aris thorne: What might surprise many is the idea that what we know about the universe might be evolving as well. The universe is still a mystery, and it’s a constant, exciting journey, of uncovering new details.
Archyde News Editor: Dr. Thorne, thank you for sharing your expertise. Our viewers are very interested in dark energy’s mysteries. With that said, where do you see the greatest potential for further research and discoveries in the coming years?
Dr. Aris Thorne: I believe the focus will increasingly be on precisely mapping the universe’s expansion history and measuring the properties of dark energy with greater precision. These measurements could provide definitive answers and a more complete picture. It may require an alteration of our understandings of some of the universe’s moast essential aspects.
Archyde News Editor: Thank you again for your time. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Dr. Aris Thorne: I encourage our readers to explore the available data from DESI and to follow our progress. The universe is full of secrets and sharing discoveries will lead to even more discoveries.
Archyde News Editor: Thank you for your insight, Dr. Thorne!
