Understanding the Relationship Between Baryonic and Dark Matter in the Universe

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between baryonic matter (BM) and dark matter (DM) in the universe, examining their ratios on both cosmic and galactic scales. Participants explore how these ratios vary in different environments and the implications for galaxy formation.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the universe contains a ratio of ΩDM=5ΩBM, suggesting that for every unit of baryonic matter, there are five units of dark matter on a cosmic scale.
  • Others note that within the Milky Way galaxy, the ratio appears to be closer to ΩDM≅20ΩBM, indicating a significant increase in dark matter relative to baryonic matter in this specific context.
  • A participant highlights that the matter distribution in the universe is not homogeneous until much larger scales, with galaxy clusters being more representative of the overall structure.
  • It is proposed that outside of galaxies, the DM/BM ratio may be slightly lower than the average, aligning with the lambda CDM model which posits that dark matter plays a crucial role in galaxy formation.
  • One participant emphasizes that the BM/DM ratio is influenced by the distribution of galaxies and galactic clusters, with smaller galaxies tending to have higher DM/BM ratios compared to larger ones.
  • There is a suggestion that the expulsion of normal matter from smaller galaxies during their formation contributes to the observed differences in the DM/BM ratios across various galaxy types.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying views on the ratios of baryonic to dark matter, with some agreeing on the general trends while others provide differing interpretations based on specific contexts, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the definitions of baryonic and dark matter, as well as the implications of galaxy formation processes on the observed ratios. The discussion also reflects a dependence on the scale of observation, which affects the interpretation of the data.

RyanH42
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We know that ΩDM=0.26
and ΩBM=0.46 which this leads us this result ΩDM=5ΩBM
So In universe If there's m baryonic matter there will be 5 times more dark matter (5m).This is true in larger universe distances

Milky way galaxy mass is 9x1010 solar masses but dark matter value is nearly 20 times bigger then that (average of 6x1011 and 3x1012) so here ΩDM≅20ΩBM

So universe contains 5ΩBM
and our galaxy contains ≅20ΩBM.

Is that mean some places there's no DM nearby the galaxy or not nearby galaxy places ?
 
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Our galaxy is actually a fairly small scale when you're talking about total densities of the observable universe. The matter distribution of the universe doesn't become homogenous until MUCH larger scales. Galaxy clusters are more representative structures for the rest of the universe, as over 90% of the baryonic matter is gas within the IGM. At the galactic scale most of the baryonic matter is from stars

I believe the answer you're looking for is that yes, outside of galaxies the ratio of DM/BM is slightly lower than average. It makes sense if you consider how lambda CDM predicts that DM is key to the formation of galaxies
 
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RyanH42 said:
We know that ΩDM=0.26
and ΩBM=0.46 which this leads us this result ΩDM=5ΩBM
So In universe If there's m baryonic matter there will be 5 times more dark matter (5m).This is true in larger universe distances

Milky way galaxy mass is 9x1010 solar masses but dark matter value is nearly 20 times bigger then that (average of 6x1011 and 3x1012) so here ΩDM≅20ΩBM

So universe contains 5ΩBM
and our galaxy contains ≅20ΩBM.

Is that mean some places there's no DM nearby the galaxy or not nearby galaxy places ?

To be nit picky, only because the number is so critical to your analysis, you mean to say that ΩBM=0.046.

More generally, there are well established phenomenological relationships between the BM in a galaxy or galactic cluster defining total mass as a function of a single BM variable (with a kinked curve that breaks with different galaxy types) in any given system for the entire universe, subject to only modest random scatter. Matter, BM and DM alike, is overwhelmingly clumped in galaxies and galactic clusters which are strongly clumped in huge filaments of matter between large voids which very low densities of matter by comparison.

Thus, the BM/DM ratio is largely a function of the distribution of galaxies and galactic clusters by size in the universe. As very crude a rule of thumb, smaller galaxies tend to have higher DM/BM ratios than larger galaxies (at least within a given type of galaxy and comparing the mean for different types of galaxies), but clusters have quite high DM/BM ratios. The universe's DM/BM ratio of 5 corresponds to a weighted mean galaxy size in the universe corresponding to the mass that has a DM/BM ratio that is typically about 5. A typical elliptical has about a 2-1 ratio of DM-BM, while a typical spiral galaxy like the Milky Way is closer to 20-1 or 12-1. A 5-1 ratio seen in the universe as a whole is at the low end for spiral galaxies (and thus associated with larger spirals with bulges) and at the high end for elliptical galaxies (and associated with smaller elliptical galaxies that aren't perfectly spherical).
 
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RyanH42 said:
So universe contains 5ΩBM
and our galaxy contains ≅20ΩBM.
As I understand it, it's probably mostly a feature of galaxy formation. When the stars first turn on in smaller galaxies, a lot of the normal matter gets expelled from the galaxy. Larger galaxies have stronger gravity, which prevents most of the normal matter from escaping, but some still does.
 

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