A new computational advance is offering scientists deeper insight into how dark matter structures form and evolve over time. For nearly a century, dark matter has remained one of cosmology’s greatest puzzles—shaping the universe while eluding direct observation. In a new study, researchers at the Perimeter Institute present a computational framework that models the evolution of a specific dark matter candidate: self-interacting dark matter halos. These vast structures are believed to serve as the gravitational homes of galaxies, including the Milky Way.

Published in Physical Review Letters, the study broadens researchers’ ability to investigate how different dark matter particle interactions shape the evolution of cosmic structures over time. Self-interacting dark matter consists of particles that can collide with one another while remaining largely undetectable to ordinary matter such as protons, neutrons, and electrons. These interactions have significant implications for dark matter halos, which many theorists view as key drivers of galaxy formation and the onset of star formation.

Figure 1. New Tool Reveals Dark Matter’s Hidden Dynamics

“Dark matter gathers into relatively diffuse clumps that are still far denser than the universe’s average matter density,” explains James Gurian, a postdoctoral fellow at the Perimeter Institute. “Galaxies like the Milky Way are embedded within these dark matter halos.” Figure 1 shows New Tool Reveals Dark Matter’s Hidden Dynamics.

Gravothermal Collapse and the Evolution of Dark Matter Halos

The evolution of self-interacting dark matter halos is driven by a process called gravothermal collapse. This phenomenon stems from an unusual feature of gravity: gravitationally bound systems heat up as they lose energy. In self-interacting dark matter, particle collisions allow energy to move outward through the halo, causing the core to grow progressively hotter and denser. Over time, this energy redistribution reshapes the internal structure of the halo.

To model structures formed by self-interacting dark matter, researchers have traditionally relied on separate methods—one suited to low-density regimes with rare particle collisions, and another designed for denser environments where collisions are frequent. However, no reliable framework existed for the intermediate regime between these extremes. To address this gap, James Gurian and his co-author Simon May, a former Perimeter Institute postdoctoral fellow, developed a new computational tool called KISS-SIDM. The code is both faster and more accurate than earlier approaches and has been released publicly for the broader research community to use.

Implications for the Formation of Black Holes

Physicists are particularly interested in understanding core collapse because it may have observable consequences for black hole formation [1]. However, the ultimate outcome of this process remains an open question in physics, and the new computational code represents an important step toward resolving it.

“The key question is what the collapse ultimately leads to,” says Gurian. “What we really want to explore is the phase that follows the formation of a black hole.”

Reference:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/physicists-crack-a-new-code-to-explore-dark-matters-hidden-life/

Cite this article:

Janani R (2025), A New Physics Code Reveals Dark Matter’s Secret Behaviour, AnaTechMaz, pp.712