- #1
- 11,440
- 750
Here is a new paper, and thorough discussion of dark matter: Non-Baryonic Dark Matter in Cosmology, http://arxiv.org/list/astro-ph/new
Dark Matter Evidence: Non-Baryonic Cosmology
- Thread starter Chronos
- Start date
-
- Tags
- Evidence
In summary, dark matter is a type of matter that cannot be observed directly but makes up a significant portion of the universe and has a crucial role in the formation and evolution of galaxies. Its existence is supported by evidence such as the rotation curves of galaxies. Dark matter differs from regular matter in its lack of interaction with light and other forces, and it is thought to be non-baryonic. There are multiple theories about its nature, including WIMPs, axions, and sterile neutrinos. The study of dark matter is essential in current cosmological models, as it helps explain the large-scale structure of the universe and the distribution of galaxies.
- #2
Vanadium 50
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Education Advisor
2023 Award
- 33,243
- 19,732
That arXiv link won't last a day.
- #3
Mordred
- 2,090
- 106
that link doesn't link a specific article, its linking new articles and titles.
- #4
yenchin
- 544
- 3
I assume this is the one: http://arxiv.org/abs/1305.0456
- #5
DrChinese
Science Advisor
Gold Member
- 8,128
- 1,878
Cool article, thanks for posting.
- #6
Mordred
- 2,090
- 106
That is a cool article I particularly like the the way they covered the distortions in the lensing aspects due to dark matter. The bullet cluster is also good coverage.
- #7
- 11,440
- 750
Yes, it is http://arxiv.org/abs/1305.0456. I copied the wrong link
1. What is dark matter and why is it important?
Dark matter refers to a type of matter that cannot be observed directly through traditional means, such as with telescopes or other astronomical instruments. It is estimated to make up about 85% of the total matter in the universe and plays a crucial role in the formation and evolution of galaxies. Its existence is inferred through its gravitational effects on other objects in space.
2. How do we know that dark matter exists?
There is a wealth of evidence that supports the existence of dark matter. One of the strongest pieces of evidence comes from observations of the rotation curves of galaxies, which show that stars on the outskirts of galaxies are moving much faster than would be expected based on the visible matter alone. This can only be explained by the presence of additional, unseen matter - dark matter.
3. How is dark matter different from regular matter?
Dark matter differs from regular matter in several ways. Firstly, it does not interact with light, which is why it cannot be observed directly. It also does not interact with the strong or electromagnetic forces, meaning it does not emit or absorb light, and is not affected by magnetic fields. Additionally, dark matter is thought to be non-baryonic, meaning it is not made up of the same particles as regular matter, such as protons and neutrons.
4. What are some of the leading theories about the nature of dark matter?
There are several theories about what dark matter may be made of. Some of the leading theories include Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), which are hypothetical particles that interact only through the weak nuclear force, and Axions, which are extremely light and weakly interacting particles. Other theories propose the existence of sterile neutrinos, gravitinos, or even primordial black holes.
5. How does the study of dark matter relate to current cosmological models?
The study of dark matter is crucial to our understanding of the universe and is an integral part of current cosmological models. These models, such as the Big Bang theory, rely on the presence of dark matter to explain the large-scale structure of the universe and the distribution of galaxies. Without including dark matter, these models would not accurately reflect the observations we have made of the universe.
Similar threads
-
Cosmology
-
Cosmology
-
Cosmology
-
Cosmology