Recent advancements in astrophysics have led to the first-ever high-definition images of the "cosmic web" of dark matter, offering a deeper understanding of the universe's structure.

This monumental discovery, the result of collaborative research between the Astrophysics Unit of the University of Milano-Bicocca and the National Institute for Astrophysics, was made possible by cutting-edge technology and hours of observation.

Researchers have successfully captured a structure from a young universe, providing a new perspective on the enigmatic dark matter that makes up 90% of the universe's mass.

Observing the Cosmic Web

The breakthrough was achieved using the MUSE spectrometer (Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer), installed at the Very Large Telescope in Chile, operated by the European Southern Observatory.

With hundreds of hours spent observing the vast reaches of space, scientists identified and captured an intricate cosmic structure, dating back to a time when the universe was still in its early stages. This discovery was published in the journal "Nature Astronomy" under the title "High-definition Imaging of a Filamentary Connection between a Close Quasar Pair at z=3."

What is the Cosmic Web?

Dark matter, which remains largely invisible to our current instruments, shapes the universe’s structure through gravitational forces. It forms a complex network of filaments that connect galaxies across vast distances.

The intersections of these filaments are where the brightest galaxies emerge. This "cosmic web" serves as the scaffolding upon which all observable structures in the universe are built. Within these filaments, gas flows, nourishing the formation of stars within galaxies.

Unveiling the Invisible

For many years, capturing the cosmic web remained impossible due to the diffuse nature of the gas in these filaments. The faint glow emitted by this gas could not be distinguished by the instruments available at the time. However, with the high sensitivity of the MUSE spectrometer, scientists were able to capture detailed images of this structure.

The study, led by Davide Tornotti, a PhD student at the University of Milano-Bicocca, utilized ultra-sensitive data to produce the clearest image of a cosmic filament ever obtained. This filament spans an astounding 3 million light-years, connecting two galaxies, each hosting a supermassive black hole.

Revealing the Structure of the Filament

The filament, which has traveled nearly 12 billion years before reaching Earth, emitted such faint light that it was almost undetectable. Through painstaking observations, scientists were able to define the filament's shape and precisely track the boundary between the gas residing within the galaxies and the material in the cosmic web.

Tornotti and his team also compared these findings with simulations of the universe, using supercomputers to verify the current cosmological model. The data confirmed that the predictions from existing theories were in substantial agreement with the observations.

Significance of the Discovery

Valentina D'Odorico, a researcher at INAF and co-author of the study, highlighted that the results obtained from this research mark a major milestone in the field of astrophysics. The team had already conducted various ultra-deep observations using MUSE over the past decade, leading to several publications. However, the results of this latest study, guided by Tornotti, stand as the culmination of their project.

The discovery not only identifies the over-densities occupied by active galactic nuclei but also reveals the filament connecting them. These structures, when quantitatively compared with numerical simulations, show alignment with a model of cosmic structure formation that includes cold dark matter.

What to Expect in the Future

Lykkers, this pioneering work in dark matter imaging opens new avenues for exploring the universe. By capturing high-definition images of the cosmic web, scientists have gained valuable insights into the universe's underlying structure, confirming theoretical models and expanding our understanding of the cosmos.

The breakthrough represents a significant leap in astrophysics, providing a clearer picture of the invisible forces that shape the universe and offering new possibilities for future research.