Scribd
Upload
8 views2 pages

Dark Matter and

Discussion on dark matter energy

Uploaded by

mathpix689
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views2 pages

Dark Matter and

Discussion on dark matter energy

Uploaded by

mathpix689
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Dark Matter and Dark Energy: The Universe’s Hidden Components

Introduction

The vast majority of the universe is composed of mysterious and invisible


substances known as dark matter and dark energy. While dark matter accounts for
about 27% of the universe’s total mass-energy content and is responsible for the
gravitational effects observed in galaxies, dark energy constitutes about 68%,
driving the accelerated expansion of the universe. Despite their significance, their
true nature remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries in modern physics.

Evidence for Dark Matter

Dark matter was first hypothesized in the 1930s by Fritz Zwicky, who noticed
discrepancies in the velocities of galaxies in the Coma Cluster. Later, Vera Rubin’s
studies on spiral galaxies confirmed that stars orbit at unexpected speeds,
suggesting the presence of unseen mass. Additional evidence includes:

Gravitational Lensing: Light from distant galaxies bends around an invisible mass,
providing clues about dark matter distribution.

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB): Observations by WMAP and Planck


satellites reveal density fluctuations that align with dark matter models.

Galaxy Clusters: The motion and distribution of galaxies within clusters indicate
the presence of extra gravitational influence.

Candidates for Dark Matter

Several theoretical particles have been proposed as dark matter candidates,


including:

WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles): These hypothetical particles interact


only through gravity and weak nuclear forces.

Axions: Extremely light particles predicted in some extensions of the Standard


Model.

Sterile Neutrinos: Hypothetical neutrinos that do not interact via the weak force.

Dark Energy and Cosmic Expansion

The concept of dark energy emerged from observations of Type Ia supernovae in


the late 1990s, revealing that the universe’s expansion is accelerating rather than
slowing down. This acceleration suggests the presence of an unknown force
counteracting gravity. Possible explanations include:

Cosmological Constant (Λ): Originally proposed by Einstein, it represents a


constant energy density filling space.

Quintessence: A dynamic energy field that varies over time.

Modified Gravity Theories: Alternative explanations where General Relativity is


extended to account for acceleration without dark energy.

Experimental Searches and Future Missions

Ongoing and future projects aim to uncover the nature of dark matter and dark
energy:

Large Hadron Collider (LHC): Searches for WIMPs and other exotic particles.

XENON, LUX-ZEPLIN, and Other Direct Detection Experiments: Designed to


observe dark matter particle interactions.

Euclid and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope: Dedicated to mapping dark
energy’s effects on cosmic structure.

Conclusion

Dark matter and dark energy represent two of the most profound challenges in
modern physics. While dark matter explains missing gravitational effects in
galaxies, dark energy drives cosmic acceleration. Future experiments and
observations will be crucial in unraveling their nature, potentially reshaping our
fundamental understanding of the universe.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy