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ASTR100 (Spring 2008) Introduction to Astronomy The Case for Dark Matter

This article explores the concept of dark matter and dark energy, which are undetected forms of mass and energy that play a significant role in the structure and formation of galaxies. The evidence for dark matter in galaxies and clusters is discussed, including rotation curves, gravitational lensing, and observations of galactic motions. The article also explores different theories on what dark matter could be made of, including ordinary dark matter (MACHOs) and extraordinary dark matter (WIMPs). Overall, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the importance of dark matter in understanding the universe.

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ASTR100 (Spring 2008) Introduction to Astronomy The Case for Dark Matter

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  1. ASTR100 (Spring 2008) Introduction to AstronomyThe Case for Dark Matter Prof. D.C. Richardson Sections 0101-0106

  2. What do we mean by dark matter and dark energy?

  3. Unseen Influences • Dark matter: An undetected form of mass that emits little or no light but whose existence we infer from its gravitational influence. • Dark energy: An unknown form of energy that seems to be the source of a repulsive force causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate.

  4. Contents of the Universe • “Normal” matter: ~ 4.4% • Normal matter inside stars: ~ 0.6% • Normal matter outside stars: ~ 3.8% • Dark matter: ~ 22% • Dark energy ~ 74%

  5. What is the evidence for dark matter in galaxies?

  6. We measure the mass of the solar system using the orbits of planets: • Orb. period • Avg. distance • Or for circles: • Orb. speed • Orbital radius

  7. Rotation curve A plot of orbital speed versus orbital radius. Solar system’s rotation curve declines because Sun has almost all the mass.

  8. Who has the largest orbital speed? A, B, or C? Answer: C

  9. Rotation curve of merry-go-round rises with radius.

  10. Rotation curve of Milky Way stays flat with distance. Mass must be more spread out than in solar system.

  11. Mass in Milky Way is spread out over a larger region than the stars. Most of the Milky Way’s mass seems to be dark matter!

  12. Mass within Sun’s orbit: ~ 1011 MSun Total mass: ~ 1012 MSun

  13. The visible portion of a galaxy lies deep in the heart of a large halo of dark matter.

  14. We can measure rotation curves of other spiral galaxies using the Doppler shift of the 21-cm line of atomic H.

  15. Spiral galaxies all tend to have flat rotation curves, indicating large amounts of dark matter.

  16. The broadening of spectral lines in elliptical galaxies tells us how fast the stars are orbiting. These galaxies also have dark matter. Slow Fast

  17. Thought Question What would you conclude about a galaxy whose rotational speed rises steadily with distance beyond the visible part of its disk? • Its mass is concentrated at the center. • It rotates like the solar system. • It’s especially rich in dark matter. • It’s just like the Milky Way.

  18. Thought Question What would you conclude about a galaxy whose rotational speed rises steadily with distance beyond the visible part of its disk? • Its mass is concentrated at the center. • It rotates like the solar system. • It’s especially rich in dark matter. • It’s just like the Milky Way.

  19. What is the evidence for dark matter in clusters of galaxies?

  20. We can measure the velocities of galaxies in a cluster from their Doppler shifts.

  21. The mass we find from galaxy motions in a cluster is about 50 times larger than the mass in stars!

  22. Clusters contain large amounts of X-ray emitting hot gas. The temperature of hot gas (particle motions) tells us cluster mass: 85% dark matter 13% hot gas 2% stars

  23. Gravitational lensing, the bending of light rays by gravity, can also tell us a cluster’s mass.

  24. A gravitational lens distorts our view of things behind it.

  25. A gravitational lens distorts our view of things behind it.

  26. All three methods of measuring cluster mass indicate similar amounts of dark matter.

  27. Thought Question What kind of measurement does not tell us the mass of a cluster of galaxies? • Measure velocities of cluster galaxies. • Measure total mass of cluster’s stars. • Measure temperature of its hot gas. • Measure distorted images of background galaxies.

  28. Thought Question What kind of measurement does not tell us the mass of a cluster of galaxies? • Measure velocities of cluster galaxies. • Measure total mass of cluster’s stars. • Measure temperature of its hot gas. • Measure distorted images of background galaxies.

  29. Does dark matter really exist?

  30. Because gravity is so well tested, most astronomers prefer #1. Our Options • Dark matter really exists, and we are observing the effects of its gravitational attraction. • Something is wrong with our understanding of gravity, causing us to mistakenly infer the existence of dark matter.

  31. What might dark matter be made of?

  32. How dark is it? … not as bright as a star.

  33. The bestbet Two Basic Options • Ordinary dark matter (MACHOS) • Massive Compact Halo Objects: dead or failed stars in halos of galaxies. • Extraordinary dark matter (WIMPS) • Weakly Interacting Massive Particles: mysterious neutrino-like particles.

  34. MACHOs occasionally make other stars appear brighter through lensing… …but there are not enough lensing events to explain dark matter.

  35. Why believe in WIMPs? • There’s not enough ordinary matter. • WIMPs could be left over from Big Bang. • Models involving WIMPs explain how galaxy formation works.

  36. ASTR100 (Spring 2008) Introduction to AstronomyStructure Formation Prof. D.C. Richardson Sections 0101-0106

  37. What is the role of dark matter in galaxy formation?

  38. Gravity of dark matter is what caused protogalactic clouds to contract early in time.

  39. WIMPs can’t contract to center because they don’t radiate away their orbital energy.

  40. Dark matter is still pulling things together. After correcting for Hubble’s Law, we can see that galaxies are flowing toward the densest regions of space. ~ 600 Mly

  41. What are the largest structures in the universe?

  42. Maps of galaxy positions reveal extremely large structures: superclusters and voids.

  43. Largest scales: distribution of galaxies seems almost uniform.

  44. Time in billions of years 2.2 5.9 8.6 13.7 0.5 35 70 93 140 13 Size of expanding box in millions of light years Models show that gravity of dark matter pulls mass into denser regions—universe grows lumpier with time.

  45. Models show that gravity of dark matter pulls mass into denser regions—universe grows lumpier with time.

  46. The Millennium Simulation

  47. Structures in galaxy maps look very similar to the ones found in models in which dark matter is WIMPs.

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