What Is the Nature of Dark Matter?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of dark matter, a complex and expansive topic in astrophysics and cosmology. Participants express interest in understanding its properties and implications, as well as seeking resources for further exploration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants inquire about the definition and characteristics of dark matter, with some referencing its lack of electromagnetic interaction. Others mention various candidates for dark matter, such as neutrinos and hypothetical particles like neutralinos and axions. There is a recognition of the complexity of the topic and the current lack of experimental verification.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing resources and expressing their thoughts on the challenges of understanding dark matter. Some have provided links to external sources that may aid in further research, while others acknowledge the intricate nature of the subject.

Contextual Notes

Participants are encouraged to explore foundational resources, such as Wikipedia, to build their understanding. There is an acknowledgment of the vastness of the topic and the potential for getting sidetracked by related concepts in quantum physics.

Luke77
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What is dark matter?
I understand this is a huge topic, so feel free to refer me to a book or link. Thank you.
 
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Luke77 said:
What is dark matter?
I understand this is a huge topic, so feel free to refer me to a book or link. Thank you.

It is huge. If you are starting from scratch, I really don't think there is anything wrong with starting at Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter It does have further links.
 
Dark matter is matter that has little to no electromagnetic interaction. There is a known quantity of baryonic matter that is considered to be dark matter but it is a very small percentage, neutrinos are also dark matter, neutralinos (haven't been proven to exist but a strong candidate) and axions (but I don't know much about them).

I did a research paper on dark matter last semester and have to tell you it gets very complex and in the end no one knows because there has not been experimental verification for what dark matter is.
This is a link that was provided by Chronos that really helped me get my research underway.
http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.3942
Good luck and careful not to get sidetracked too much with the quantum physics involved!
 
Thanks you all!
 

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