Why isn't Dark Matter involved in Weak Nuclear reactions during BBN?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the role of dark matter in weak nuclear reactions during Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). Participants explore the properties of dark matter, its potential interactions, and the implications for understanding the early universe's composition.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that dark matter has the same electrical properties as neutrons and questions why it is not involved in weak nuclear reactions during BBN, given its presumed abundance at that time.
  • Another participant challenges the claim that dark matter participates in weak nuclear reactions, stating there is no evidence for dark matter having electromagnetic properties or engaging in such interactions.
  • Requests for specific references to support claims about dark matter's properties and its role in BBN are made by multiple participants.
  • A participant points out that WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle) does not necessarily imply participation in the known weak interactions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the properties of dark matter and its involvement in weak nuclear reactions. No consensus is reached on the claims made about dark matter's interactions or its role in BBN.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about dark matter's properties and interactions lack supporting evidence, and there are unresolved questions regarding the definitions and implications of terms like WIMP.

Doctor Strange
Messages
31
Reaction score
2
Several articles I've read say that the basis for BBN is that we know how particles react here on earth, so we can extrapolate that and make precise predictions for the composition of the universe at a given energy level. For example, at 100 Billion K, we have a pretty good idea how neutrons, protons, electrons, photons and the like would combine, recombine and form an equilibrium based on a statistical model.

So here's the part I don't get: Dark Matter has the same electrical properties as neutrons. Dark matter participates in Weak Nuclear reactions. So how come none of these reactions involve Dark Matter (which was abundant as a primordial particle at this time)?
 
Space news on Phys.org
Doctor Strange said:
So here's the part I don't get: Dark Matter has the same electrical properties as neutrons. Dark matter participates in Weak Nuclear reactions. So how come none of these reactions involve Dark Matter (which was abundant as a primordial particle at this time)?

There's no evidence for either of these. Dark matter isn't known to have electromagnetic properties, unlike a neutron which at least has a magnetic moment and is also composed of electrically charged particles, nor is there evidence for dark matter participating in weak nuclear reactions.

Edit: I've also changed the thread prefix to B instead of A since this discussion is not at an A level.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: PeterDonis
Doctor Strange said:
Several articles I've read

Please give specific references (and not pop science ones, actual textbooks or peer-reviewed papers).
 
PeterDonis said:
Please give specific references (and not pop science ones, actual textbooks or peer-reviewed papers).
While the early universe is totally unlike our everyday world, the basic nuclear physics at the appropriate energies is well within the range of laboratory experiments. Following such experiments, the properties of the relevant nuclear reactions are very well known. Physicists can base their calculations on solid experimental data when they want to describe reactions like the one pictured here
 
Doctor Strange, which of your four links is the text you quoted from?

Also, which, if any, of these references are your source for the statements quoted below?

Doctor Strange said:
Dark Matter has the same electrical properties as neutrons. Dark matter participates in Weak Nuclear reactions. So how come none of these reactions involve Dark Matter (which was abundant as a primordial particle at this time)?
 
Drakkith said:
nor is there evidence for dark matter participating in weak nuclear reactions.
You do understand that WIMP stands for "Weakly Interacting Massive Particle", right?
 
Doctor Strange said:
You do understand that WIMP stands for "Weakly Interacting Massive Particle", right?

You do understand that "Weakly Interacting" here does not refer to the known weak interaction, right?

Thread closed until the OP can give (by PM) acceptable references that back up the claims made in the OP.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
5K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K