What is dark matter made of? Leading theories explained: Axion, Wimp, Machos

Arvin Ash13 minutes read

The night sky is dark due to invisible dark matter, which outweighs visible matter six times over, forming halos around galaxies. Potential dark matter candidates include WIMPs and Axions, with ongoing research and experiments seeking to identify these elusive particles.

Insights

  • Dark matter, an invisible substance that outweighs visible matter by six times, was theorized by Fritz Zwicky in the 1930s and confirmed by Vera Rubin's observations in the 1970s, affecting the orbital speeds of stars in galaxies.
  • Potential dark matter candidates, such as WIMPs and Axions, are being explored through experiments at locations like Hamburg, Germany, and CERN, but definitive evidence remains elusive, indicating a prolonged scientific endeavor with the need for patience or new theories to explain dark matter.

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Recent questions

  • What makes the night sky appear dark?

    The night sky appears dark because most matter is invisible to our eyes, primarily composed of dark matter.

  • Who first theorized the existence of dark matter?

    Fritz Zwicky first theorized dark matter in the 1930s due to its gravitational effects on galaxies.

  • How does dark matter affect the orbital speeds of stars?

    Dark matter forms a halo around galaxies, affecting the orbital speeds of stars within them.

  • What are potential candidates for dark matter?

    Potential dark matter candidates include WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) and Axions, which do not require supersymmetry.

  • Where are Axion experiments conducted?

    Axion experiments are conducted in Hamburg, Germany, and CERN, but no detection has been made yet, leaving dark matter mysteries unsolved.

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Summary

00:00

"Unveiling the Mystery of Dark Matter"

  • The night sky appears dark because most matter is invisible to our eyes.
  • The universe is primarily made up of dark matter, which is invisible and comprises six times more matter than visible matter.
  • Dark matter was first theorized by Fritz Zwicky in the 1930s due to its gravitational effects on galaxies.
  • Vera Rubin's observations in the 1970s further confirmed the existence of dark matter by explaining the orbital speeds of stars in galaxies.
  • Dark matter forms a halo around galaxies, affecting the orbital speeds of stars.
  • Dark matter is distinct from ordinary matter like stars and planets, as it does not interact strongly with itself.
  • The distribution of dark matter suggests it is evenly spread and forms halos around galaxies.
  • The WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle) is a potential dark matter candidate that interacts through gravity and the weak nuclear force.
  • Supersymmetry theory predicts the existence of the Neutralino, a possible dark matter particle.
  • The Axion is another candidate for dark matter, solving the strong CP problem in physics and potentially explaining the lack of neutron spin in electric fields.

13:36

WIMPs and Axions: Dark Matter Candidates

  • WIMPs and Axions are potential dark matter candidates that do not require supersymmetry and can be integrated into the standard model as a lighter version of the higgs boson. While a cubic centimeter of space would contain roughly one WIMP particle if WIMPs were dark matter, it would hold approximately 10^16 Axions if they were dark matter. Axion experiments are conducted in Hamburg, Germany, and CERN, but no detection has been made yet. Scientists speculate that dark matter could be WIMPs and/or Axions, but definitive evidence is lacking, which is common in scientific endeavors that can take decades to resolve. It is possible that current tools are inadequate to detect these elusive particles, requiring patience or a new theory to explain dark matter. This ongoing research is anticipated to engage physicists for an extended period.
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