An international research team has proposed a novel mechanism by which primordial black holes could induce Type Ia supernovae in white dwarf stars. The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, suggests this process may account for certain chemical abundance patterns detected among stars in the Milky Way.
Primordial black holes are theoretical objects believed to have formed during the universe’s earliest moments of cosmic inflation. Scientists have proposed them as potential candidates for dark matter, the invisible material comprising approximately 90% of all matter in the universe by mass. As these black holes traverse the cosmos, researchers theorize that gravitational encounters with white dwarfs—dense remnants of low-mass stars—could generate powerful tidal forces capable of destabilizing these stars and triggering explosive thermonuclear reactions.
The research team, led by Shing-Chi Leung of SUNY Polytechnic Institute and including scientists from The University of Tokyo’s Kavli Institute, tested this hypothesis by comparing theoretical models with observed supernova remnants and nearby supernovae. The team analyzed specific chemical signatures, including radioactive isotopes such as Ni-56 and Ni-57, along with stable elements like manganese and nickel. These elemental traces enabled researchers to estimate the masses and metallicities of stars that produced the explosions, providing insights into when stars formed and the chemical conditions present in the early universe.
The analysis revealed that a measurable fraction of Type Ia supernovae may originate from primordial black hole encounters, suggesting these hypothetical objects may have shaped galactic chemical evolution through triggered stellar explosions. The researchers indicated they intend to expand their investigation by examining how such explosions might influence broader supernova populations and rates across the cosmos.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI