科学家们提出新理论：暗维度理论，或能帮助科学家们解释宇宙暗物质之谜 Dark dimension theory, may explain the mystery of dark matter

科学家们提出了一个新理论——暗维度场景，旨在解释宇宙中暗物质和暗能量的神秘性质。这一理论认为，除了我们熟知的三维空间和一个时间维度外，宇宙中还隐藏着六个额外的微小空间维度。其中，有一个额外的空间维度特别大，达到了1微米的宽度，它可能是暗物质粒子的来源，这些粒子构成了宇宙总质量的约25%，而宇宙的剩余70%由暗能量组成。
暗维度理论在弦论框架内提出，弦论试图统一量子力学和广义相对论。该理论的提出者Ignatios Antoniadis认为，暗维度理论为弦论、量子引力、粒子物理学和宇宙学之间搭建了桥梁。尽管目前没有直接证据证明暗维度的存在，但该理论提出了可以通过宇宙学观测和物理实验验证的预测。
暗维度理论还试图解释宇宙常数的谜团，即为何宇宙常数的值异常地小。爱因斯坦曾引入宇宙常数以防止宇宙膨胀，但后来的观测发现宇宙确实在膨胀，且这一膨胀速度正在加快，这被认为由暗能量驱动。Vafa和他的团队通过深入研究，提出了距离猜想，认为宇宙常数的微小值可能与更轻、相互作用更弱的粒子相伴随，这些粒子的质量与宇宙常数的值有直接联系。
该理论还预测了暗引力子的存在，这些粒子可能构成暗物质，并且可能通过宇宙学调查和实验室实验来探测。然而，一些物理学家对暗维度理论持怀疑态度，认为其基于的猜想大胆，目前支持这些猜想的证据薄弱。尽管如此，如果即将到来的测试能够支持暗维度理论，它将有助于我们更深入地理解暗物质、暗能量和重力之间的相互作用，以及为何重力相较于其他基本力显得如此微弱。
Scientists have proposed a new theory known as the "dark dimension scenario" to explain the mysterious nature of dark matter and dark energy in the universe. This theory suggests that in addition to the three spatial dimensions and one time dimension we are familiar with, the universe also contains six additional minuscule spatial dimensions. Among these, one extra spatial dimension is particularly large, reaching a width of 1 micrometer, and it may be the source of dark matter particles. These particles are believed to constitute approximately 25% of the total mass of the universe, while the remaining 70% is made up of dark energy.
The dark dimension theory is proposed within the framework of string theory, which attempts to unify quantum mechanics and Einstein's general theory of relativity. The proponent of the theory, Ignatios Antoniadis, believes that the dark dimension theory has built bridges between string theory, quantum gravity, particle physics, and cosmology. Although there is currently no direct evidence to prove the existence of dark dimensions, the theory has made predictions that can be verified through cosmological observations and physical experiments.
The dark dimension theory also attempts to address the puzzle of the cosmological constant, which is why the value of the cosmological constant is exceptionally small. Einstein introduced the cosmological constant to prevent the universe from expanding, but later observations found that the universe is indeed expanding, and this expansion is accelerating, which is believed to be driven by dark energy. Vafa and his team, through in-depth research, proposed the "distance conjecture," suggesting that the extremely small value of the cosmological constant may be accompanied by lighter particles with weaker interactions, and the mass of these particles is directly related to the value of the cosmological constant.
The theory also predicts the existence of dark gravitons, which may constitute dark matter and could potentially be detected through cosmological surveys and laboratory experiments. However, some physicists are skeptical of the dark dimension theory, considering its bold conjectures and the current evidence supporting these conjectures to be weak. Nevertheless, if upcoming tests can support the dark dimension theory, it could help us gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between dark matter, dark energy, and gravity, as well as why gravity is so much weaker compared to other known fundamental forces. Gopakumar commented, "Theorists always try to 'bundle' different theories together to form a unified framework. The dark dimension theory is one of the most promising ideas I have heard in this direction." However, a question that the dark dimension hypothesis has not yet explained is why the cosmological constant is so exceptionally small - a perplexing fact that is actually the main driving force behind this entire line of research. Vafa admitted, "Indeed, our model does not explain why the cosmological constant is so small." But he also pointed out, "What we can say is that from this theoretical scenario, if the cosmological constant lambda is indeed very small - and you consider all the consequences that this small value brings - then a series of astonishing phenomena may occur."