Sonified: The Matter of the Bullet Cluster
Image Credit:
X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/STScI, Magellan/U.Arizona; Lensing Map: NASA/STScI, ESO WFI, Magellan/U.Arizona; Sonification: NASA/CXC/SAO/K.Arcand, SYSTEM Sounds (M. Russo, A. Santaguida)
What's the matter with the Bullet Cluster?
This massive cluster of galaxies
(1E 0657-558)
creates
gravitational lens distortions
of background galaxies in a way that has been interpreted
as strong evidence for the leading theory: that
dark matter exists within.
Different analyses, though, indicate that a less popular alternative -- modifying gravity-- could explain cluster dynamics without
dark matter, and provide a
more likely progenitor scenario as well.
Currently, the
two scientific hypotheses are competing to explain the observations: it's
invisible matter versus amended gravity.
The duel is dramatic as a clear
Bullet-proof example
of dark matter would shatter the simplicity of
modified gravity theories.
The featured sonified image is a
Hubble/Chandra/Magellan
composite with red depicting the X-rays emitted by hot gas, and blue depicting the suggested
separated dark matter distribution.
The sonification assigns low tones to dark matter, mid-range frequencies to
visible light, and high tones to
X-rays.
The battle over the
matter in the Bullet cluster is likely to continue as more
observations, computer simulations, and analyses are completed.