What is Daksha?
Daksha is an Indian astronomical mission led by IIT Bombay. It involves two satellites placed in orbit on opposite sides of the Earth to monitor most of the sky for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and other X-ray and gamma-ray phenomena.
What is Dark Matter?
Dark matter is the invisible mass that makes up about five-sixths of the universe’s total mass. It does not interact with light, revealing its existence only through its gravitational effects on visible matter.
How Can Daksha Help in Studying Dark Matter?
Daksha can detect tiny primordial black holes (PBHs) that may constitute dark matter by observing their gravitational lensing effects on GRBs. These PBHs, ranging in size from 0.01 nanometers to a micrometer, bend X-rays in a way that larger telescopes can detect.
Key Highlights of Daksha’s Capabilities:
• Wide Sky Coverage: Daksha’s double-satellite setup provides a ten-fold improvement over existing missions in sky coverage, crucial for catching transient events like GRBs.
• Sensitive Detectors: Daksha is equipped with highly sensitive detectors to catch X-rays and gamma-rays, capable of identifying thousands of GRBs and electromagnetic counterparts to neutron star mergers.
• Strategic Positioning: The separation of the two satellites allows for precise measurements of GRB magnifications due to gravitational lensing by PBHs, enhancing the chances of detecting dark matter.
Significance of Daksha’s Mission:
• Gravitational Waves and Electromagnetic Counterparts: Daksha can rapidly respond to gravitational wave events, providing critical electromagnetic data to complement gravitational wave detections.
• Comprehensive Monitoring: In addition to dark matter studies, Daksha will monitor solar flares, highly magnetized neutron stars, fast radio bursts, supernova remnants, and gamma-ray lightning in Earth’s atmosphere.
• Potential Breakthroughs: By leveraging Daksha’s capabilities, scientists can probe the PBH mass window for the first time, potentially revealing the nature of dark matter.
Conclusion:
Daksha represents a significant advancement in astronomical observation, with the potential to address fundamental questions about dark matter. Its comprehensive monitoring and sensitive detection capabilities make it a valuable tool for various astronomical studies, from solar flares to neutron star mergers.
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