Faint dark matter is suspected of being responsible for the formation of dark stars.

The so-called dark stars are composed of ultra-light particles known as bosons, and within such structures, ordinary baryonic matter is also present. Despite the effects indicating the existence of dark matter (its gravitational influence on cosmic objects), scientists remain uncertain about its exact composition.

Ten years ago, the most likely candidates for dark matter were the WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) predicted by several theories, which fit well within the Standard Cosmological Model (ΛCDM model). However, attempts to capture these particles using specialized detectors have not yet been successful, prompting physicists to explore alternative models.

According to the cold dark matter (CDM) hypothesis, this invisible matter consists of particles that move slower than the speed of light and interact very little with each other and with ordinary matter. While the model adequately describes the large-scale distribution of matter in the universe, it yields contradictory results when examining local structures, such as the dense cores of galaxies, predicting overly 'rigid' and dense galactic cores compared to actual observational data.

To reconcile theory and observations, astrophysicists have turned to even more exotic models, particularly warm dark matter (WDM)—where its particles are an order of magnitude faster and lighter than WIMPs—and fuzzy dark matter (FDM), which has particles of even smaller mass.

If dark matter indeed consists of extremely light bosons, its quantum-wave properties could manifest on the scales of entire galaxies, with the 'quanta' forming extended objects with relatively low average density. Such structures are referred to as dark or bosonic stars (when discussing specific mathematical solutions).

To investigate whether fuzzy dark matter and ordinary gas can form dark stars (stable structures in the cores of galaxies), researchers from the University of Michoacán (Mexico) and the University of Göttingen (Germany) utilized computer simulations to examine a simplified scenario, mixing fuzzy dark matter (modeled using the Schrödinger-Poisson equation) with a small fraction of ordinary gas (modeled without accounting for complex processes like cooling and star formation). The researchers tracked how these two components evolved under the influence of gravity.

The results of the study, presented on the Cornell University preprint server, indicated that the initially "chaotic" clouds of dark matter and gas quickly approached a configuration close to equilibrium: fuzzy dark matter formed a central core, while gas concentrated around it. Ultimately, a stable fermion-boson star or dark star (a prototype of a possible galactic core) emerged, surrounded by a cloud of dark matter.

Preliminary analysis also suggested that such a model does not fundamentally contradict astronomical observations. This potentially positions dark stars as key candidates for galactic cores (within the context of fuzzy dark matter, as opposed to the classical cold dark matter model).

However, to compare the theory with specific observational data and to fully explain core formation, further, more complex simulations (considering cooling, star formation, rotation, and so on) will be necessary.

If future research confirms the new findings of the scientists, the fuzzy dark matter hypothesis will gain additional credibility, and dark stars will be considered a key scenario for describing galactic cores.