Is there any evidence for MACHOs or WIMPs being Dark Matter?

In summary, MACHOS have been largely ruled out as a candidate for Dark Matter due to not contributing enough to the matter density. WIMPs are now considered the leading candidate, with the possibility of a heavy sterile neutrino. The best evidence for Dark Matter being a physical substance rather than a modification of gravity is the observation of the Bullet cluster.
  • #1
Quds Akbar
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I know MACHOS and WIMPs are leading candidates for Dark Matter, but is there any convincing evidence to support them?
 
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  • #2
Well, I think MACHOS has been more or less ruled out as a dark matter candidate. They don't contribute enough to the matter density to be "most of" the dark matter. WIMPs are probably now our best candidates. I don't know of many other potential candidates, other than a perhaps heavy-ish sterile neutrino (which would be very similar to a WIMP, but is not usually included as a WIMP in the terminology).

The best evidence we have that Dark Matter is made of "stuff" and is not a modification of the laws of gravity, I believe, is the Bullet cluster: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_Cluster
 

1. What are MACHOs and WIMPs?

MACHOs (Massive Astrophysical Compact Halo Objects) and WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) are two of the leading candidates for dark matter, which is a hypothetical form of matter that makes up about 85% of the total mass of the universe. MACHOs are objects such as black holes, neutron stars, or brown dwarfs that emit little or no light, while WIMPs are subatomic particles that are believed to interact very weakly with normal matter.

2. What evidence supports the existence of MACHOs and WIMPs as dark matter?

The strongest evidence for the existence of MACHOs and WIMPs as dark matter comes from observations of the rotation curves of galaxies. The rotation curves show that there is more mass in galaxies than can be accounted for by the visible matter, indicating the presence of additional, invisible matter. Additionally, gravitational lensing studies have also provided evidence for the presence of dark matter.

3. How do scientists search for MACHOs and WIMPs?

Scientists search for MACHOs and WIMPs using a variety of methods. MACHOs can be detected through gravitational microlensing, which involves observing the distortion of light from distant stars as they pass in front of a MACHO. WIMPs, on the other hand, are typically searched for using large underground detectors that can detect the rare interactions between WIMPs and normal matter.

4. Have MACHOs or WIMPs been definitively identified as dark matter?

No, neither MACHOs nor WIMPs have been definitively identified as dark matter. While there is strong evidence for their existence, more research and data are needed to confirm their role as dark matter. Additionally, there are other potential candidates for dark matter that are still being explored.

5. Why is the search for dark matter important?

The search for dark matter is important because it can help us better understand the composition and structure of the universe. The presence of dark matter has a significant impact on the formation and evolution of galaxies, and its properties can also provide insights into fundamental physics theories. Additionally, understanding the nature of dark matter could potentially lead to new technologies and advancements in our understanding of the universe.

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