Scientists have figured out how fast the universe is accelerating in the Milky Way

Led by Sukanya Chakrabarti of the Institute for Advanced Study, a team of scientists

used pulsar data to measureradial and vertical acceleration of stars inside and outside the galactic plane. Based on these new high-precision measurements and the known amount of visible matter in the galaxy, the researchers were able to calculate the density of dark matter in the Milky Way without making the usual assumption that the galaxy is in a stationary state.

Ripples in the disc of the Milky Way are shown, as well astidal debris of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy. The inset shows pulsars analyzed by Chakrabarti et al. In 2021 to calculate the acceleration of the galaxy. Photo: IAS; Dana Berry

“Our analysis not only gives us the first dimensiontiny accelerations that stars in the galaxy experience, but also opens up the possibility of expanding work to understand the nature of dark matter and, ultimately, dark energy, ”said Chakrabarti, lead author of the article.

Stars rush through the galaxy at hundreds of speedskilometers per second, but new research shows that the change in their speed occurs much more slowly - a few centimeters per second. To detect this subtle movement, the research team relied on the ultra-precise time-keeping ability of pulsars, which are widely distributed across the galactic plane and halo, a diffuse spherical region surrounding the galaxy. 

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