Dark matter is a type of matter that makes up about 85% of the total mass of the universe. It does not emit or absorb light, making it invisible to telescopes. Baryons, on the other hand, are the ordinary matter that makes up stars, planets, and all visible matter in the universe.
Dark matter and baryons do not interact through electromagnetic forces, meaning they do not emit or absorb light. However, they can interact through gravity, which is the force that keeps objects in the universe bound together. Dark matter and baryons can also interact through the weak nuclear force, but this interaction is very rare.
Scientists have observed that the rotation curves of galaxies do not match the expected rotation based on the visible matter present. This suggests that there must be some unseen matter, such as dark matter, interacting with the visible matter through gravity. Additionally, the gravitational lensing effect, where light from distant galaxies is bent by the gravity of dark matter, also provides evidence for the interaction between dark matter and baryons.
Yes, dark matter and baryons can form a bound system, such as a galaxy. The gravitational force between dark matter particles and baryons allows them to clump together and form structures in the universe. However, the exact nature of this interaction is still not fully understood and is an active area of research in astrophysics.
While gravity is the main force that allows dark matter and baryons to interact, there have been some theories proposing other types of interactions, such as dark matter decay or annihilation. However, there is currently no conclusive evidence to support these theories, and further research and observations are needed to understand the true nature of dark matter and its interactions with baryons.