Hydrogen's Second Flavour
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hydrogen atoms – with consequences Physical Sciences comparable to a well-established theory in particle physics. According to the Standard Model, describing fundamental particles and forces in the universe, all known hadrons – a family which includes protons and neutrons – Hydrogen’s are made up of elementary particles named quarks. These particles can come in six different ‘flavours’ – all of which have fundamentally different properties dictating how they interact with each Second Flavour other. According to Prof Oks, S-state hydrogen represents an entire ‘second A Solution to Dark Matter? flavour’ of hydrogen atoms – an idea which would have profound implications Figure 1. There is a huge discrepancy between the theoretical and for the composition of our universe. experimental scalings of the momentum p in the tail of its distribution From their observations, ontaining just a single electron and theoretical results concerning the in the ground state of hydrogen atoms. astronomers widely predict orbiting a single proton, the high-energy tail,” he explains. “It was CONSEQUENCES FOR THEORIES that dark matter must comprise hydrogen atom is the simplest the allowance for that solution that AND EXPERIMENTS around 85% of all matter in the C of all elements in the periodic table. eliminated the above huge discrepancy When light interacts with a regular closely spaced, or ‘hyperfine’ energy frequency photons, with characteristic universe. So far, however, most Owing to the low number of inter- between the atomic experiments and hydrogen atom, photons containing levels, emitting a photon in the process. wavelengths of 21 cm, are a key feature theories about the nature of particle interactions taking place within the theory.” This discovery resolved just the right amount of energy can Although the chances of seeing this of the vast clouds of neutral hydrogen this mysterious source of mass these atoms, they have long been a gap in physicists’ theories which excite its electron to a higher energy happen in an individual atom are observed by astronomers. In the early have pinned their hopes on theoretical, as-yet undiscovered considered a reliable test bench for had endured for decades. However, level. Yet intriguingly, this isn’t the vanishingly small, these microwave- universe, however, some theories particles. Professor Eugene Oks physicists to compare their theories its implications would go far beyond case for the atoms have suggested from the Physics Department with real experimental observations. explaining the properties of hydrogen theorised by that ultraviolet light of the Auburn University has Yet despite their simplicity, the physical atoms themselves. Prof Oks. As he The existence of this second from newly formed proposed that a more natural properties of hydrogen atoms still hold explains: “The stars could have explanation could come in the a number of unsolved mysteries. In their ADDING A NEW FLAVOUR second flavour of kind of hydrogen atom is not altered the excitation form of an uncharted ‘second ground state – where their electrons One key aspect of Prof Oks’ approach hydrogen atoms only theoretical; it also has proof of the upper of flavour’ of the hydrogen atom. have not been excited to higher energy was that it didn’t consider the hydrogen practically does the two hyperfine With a reliable basis in theory, levels – the atoms’ linear momenta atom’s proton to be a single point not interact with from atomic experiments. levels, producing an atomic experiments, and (products of the mass and velocity of an in space, as most of the previous electromagnetic ‘absorption profile’ in astronomical observations, object) are distributed over a range of models had approximated. Instead, radiation. They remain dark.” As a the 21 cm hydrogen line which should his ideas hold the potential to values. At higher energies, this pattern the nucleus occupied a finite volume consequence, these atoms will interact still be visible today. provide long-awaited solutions displays an elongated ‘tail,’ whose of space, significantly altering the with the universe in a fundamentally to one of the most notorious shape follows a close relationship with modelled behaviour of its orbiting different way to ‘regular’ forms of wikimedia.org From their observations, Bowman’s team mysteries in modern physics. the atoms’ momenta. For decades, electron and allowing for two (rather hydrogen. According to Prof Oks, such not only detected clear evidence of however, physicists’ models of the than the usual one) solutions of the behaviour could well have been spotted this absorption profile; their findings far shape of this tail didn’t match up with Dirac equation outside the proton. by a team of astronomers led by Judd exceeded their expectations. For Prof their observations. This was a fundamental result in its Bowman at the Arizona State University Oks, however, this did not come as a own right. As well as eliminating the in 2018. In their study, the researchers surprise. “They found that the amplitude Shutterstock.com In his earlier research, high-energy tail discrepancy, Prof were investigating a particular of the line’s absorption profile was more Professor Eugene Oks Oks has shown in his latest research frequency of electromagnetic radiation than twice as large than the largest from the Physics how this outcome is relevant to all characteristic of hydrogen clouds in predictions”, he says. “The allowance for Department of the excited states of hydrogen, being space – named the ‘hydrogen line’. the second flavour of hydrogen atoms Auburn University under certain conditions dictated by provides feasible explanations for these resolved this issue quantum mechanics – together known In an atom of neutral hydrogen, the puzzling observational results.” If his through a novel as ‘S-states’. “The second solution of electron has a minuscule chance of The hydrogen ‘spin-flip’ with characteristic theory is correct, Prof Oks hopes that solution to the the Dirac equation outside the proton spontaneously flipping between two wavelengths of 21 cm is called the ‘hydrogen line’. his proposed S-state hydrogen atoms ‘Dirac equation’ – actually holds for all S-states, rather the equation than only for the ground state”, Prof representing an Oks describes. “The existence of this advanced theory which second kind of hydrogen atom is not accounts for a property of only theoretical; it also has proof from quantum particles named their atomic experiments.” spin, while also remaining consistent with Einstein’s law of special relativity. In this study, Prof Oks proposed that magnetix/Shutterstock.com “Before 2001, there was a huge atoms in this group display entirely discrepancy between the experimental different physical properties to regular The emission spectrum of hydrogen: emission occurs when an electron jumps from a higher to a lower energy state. www.researchoutreach.org www.researchoutreach.org by an ‘unspecified’ form of dark matter, possibly in the form of as-yet undetected axions or WIMPs. Yet as Prof Oks concludes, he believes that the evidence Behind the Research for his ideas is far more tangible. “The existence of the second flavour of hydrogen atoms, which are ‘dark’, has Prof Eugene Oks the proof from atomic experiments”, he says. “In addition, there is also a E: [email protected] possible astrophysical evidence of their W: http://www.auburn.edu/cosam/faculty/physics/emeritus/oks/index.htm existence.” If Prof Oks is correct, it would ultimately mean that dark matter is at least partially composed of hydrogen’s References dark second flavour. Research Objectives Professor Oks proves the existence of the second flavour of Figure 2. For each usual hydrogen atom Furthermore, if these hydrogen atoms Oks, E. (2001). High-energy tail of the linear momentum there could be about 5 hydrogen atoms of hydrogen atoms – those having only S-states. the second flavor and they are dark. really exist in abundance throughout distribution in the ground state of hydrogen atoms or the universe, it could mean that the hydrogen-like ions. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular observations of Bowman’s team were the and Optical Physics, 34(11), 2235. could provide long-awaited answers to for through ongoing detection first to reveal long-awaited interactions Detail one of the most pressing questions in experiments. Yet even after many years between regular and dark matter. Address Oks, E. (2020). Two Flavors of Hydrogen Atoms: A Possible modern cosmology. of searching, no conclusive evidence Since hydrogen S-states are based on Physics Department Explanation of Dark Matter. Atoms, 8(3), 33. for these particles has ever been found. well-established theories in particle 380 Duncan Drive COMPETING WITH If Prof Oks’ theories are correct, they physics and quantum mechanics, this Auburn University Oks, E. (2020). Alternative kind of hydrogen atoms as a UNPROVEN THEORIES could at least partially eliminate the would have profound consequences Auburn, AL 36849 possible explanation for the latest puzzling observation of For decades, astronomers have USA the 21 cm radio line from the early Universe. Research in noticed blatant discrepancies in their Astronomy and Astrophysics, 20(7), 109. observations of galaxies and the If Prof Oks is correct, it would ultimately Bio wider cosmological environment. Eugene Oks is Professor at the Physics Department of Bowman, J.D., Rogers, A.E., Monsalve, R.A., Mozdzen, For example, current calculations mean that dark matter is at least the Auburn University in Alabama, US. He has conducted T.J., Mahesh, N. (2018). An absorption profile centred at 78 incorporating the known laws of gravity partially composed of hydrogen’s research in atomic and molecular physics, astrophysics, megahertz in the sky-averaged spectrum. Nature, 555(7694), suggest that the rotation speeds of plasma physics, laser physics, and nonlinear dynamics. Prof 67–70. galaxies should slow down towards dark second flavour. Oks founded/co-founded new research fields: intra-Stark their edges – however, observations spectroscopy, lasing without inversion in the microwave Barkana, R.