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Does the diffused distribution of dark matter as halos over galaxies imply dark matter is made up of low-mass particles?
Dark matter is a type of matter that does not emit or interact with light, making it invisible to telescopes. It is believed to make up about 85% of the total mass in the universe. Dark matter affects the mass of galaxies by exerting gravitational forces on visible matter, causing it to clump together and form structures such as galaxies and galaxy clusters.
Scientists use a variety of techniques to measure the mass of dark matter halos, including gravitational lensing, galaxy rotation curves, and simulations. Gravitational lensing involves observing the bending of light from distant objects by the gravitational pull of dark matter. Galaxy rotation curves measure the speeds of stars and gas in galaxies, which can be used to calculate the mass of the dark matter halo. Simulations use computer models to simulate the behavior of dark matter and its effects on visible matter.
Dark matter halos are thought to have formed from the gravitational collapse of primordial gas and dark matter in the early universe. As the universe expanded, regions of higher density attracted more matter, leading to the formation of dark matter halos. Over time, these halos grew in size as more matter was drawn into them by gravity.
No, dark matter halos cannot be detected directly because they do not emit or interact with light. However, scientists can indirectly detect the presence of dark matter through its gravitational effects on visible matter.
The current understanding is that dark matter halos are distributed throughout the universe, with larger halos containing more mass and smaller halos containing less mass. These halos are thought to be interconnected, forming a cosmic web that spans the entire universe. The exact distribution and properties of dark matter halos are still being studied and refined by scientists.