Everything you wanted to know about Dark Matter

In summary, the paper titled "Dark Matter and Particle Physics" contains a vast amount of information on the topic of Dark Matter. Written by Gianfranco Bertone, Dan Hooper, and Joseph Silk, the paper provides an interesting overview of everything you may not know about Dark Matter. Although it may take some time to load due to its size, the paper is well worth the read for anyone interested in the subject.
  • #1
Olias
257
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Fantastic amount of information contained in this paper:
http://uk.arxiv.org/PS_cache/hep-ph/pdf/0404/0404175.pdf

Its long, but everything you 'dont' know about Dark Matter is contained in this interesting overview.

Takes a while to load because of its size, but its well worth it, authors are:

Gianfranco Bertone1, Dan Hooper2 and Joseph Silk2
 
Last edited:
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2

1. What is dark matter?

Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that is thought to make up about 85% of the total mass of the universe. It does not interact with light, making it invisible to telescopes, and its presence is only inferred through its gravitational effects on visible matter.

2. How was the existence of dark matter first discovered?

The existence of dark matter was first inferred in the 1930s by Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky, who noticed that the mass of visible matter in the Coma cluster of galaxies was not enough to keep the cluster from flying apart. He proposed the existence of unseen "dark matter" to explain the cluster's stability.

3. What are some proposed explanations for the nature of dark matter?

There are several theories that attempt to explain the nature of dark matter, including WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles), axions, and MACHOs (massive astrophysical compact halo objects). However, the exact composition of dark matter remains unknown and is a subject of ongoing research.

4. How does dark matter affect the formation and evolution of galaxies?

Dark matter plays a crucial role in the formation and evolution of galaxies. Its gravitational pull helps to hold galaxies together and provides the framework for the formation of stars and other visible matter. Without dark matter, galaxies would not have enough mass to maintain their shape or form.

5. Can dark matter be detected and studied?

While dark matter itself cannot be directly detected, its effects can be observed and studied through various methods such as gravitational lensing, galaxy rotation curves, and particle accelerator experiments. Scientists continue to search for ways to detect and understand this elusive form of matter in order to gain a better understanding of the universe.

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