Explains in a digestible, nonmathematical way how dark matter can be observed
Covers the study of dark matter over time, from early clues to modern observations
Illustrates the exciting search for the invisible matter that makes up a large part of the universe
Author(s): Wolfgang Kapferer
Series: Astronomers' Universe
Edition: 1st ed. 2021.
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 178
Foreword
Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Art of Weighing a Star
2.1 Mass Determination in the Cosmic Front Yard - The Solar System
2.2 Mass Determinations in the Galaxy
Visual Binary Stars
2.3 Your Type Reveals Your Weight
The Mass–luminosity Relationship
The Spectral Types of Stars
Summary
References
3 The First Signs of a Big Problem
3.1 Early Signs in the Milky Way
The virial theorem - masses by star distributions
3.2 Early Signs in Galaxy Clusters
Distance Measurements Beyond the Boundaries of Our Galaxy
The Cepheid Method
The Redshift of the Spectra
Zwicky and the Coma Cluster of Galaxies
Summary
References
4 A Problem Manifests Itself
4.1 Rotation Curves of Spiral Galaxies
4.2 An Excursion Into X-ray Astronomy
The Intracluster Medium - Radiant Indicator of Dark Matter
4.3 The Gravitational Lensing Effect
Summary
References
5 How Dark Matter Dominates our Model of Structure Formation in the Universe
5.1 Small Difference with Maximum Consequences - Cosmic Background Radiation
What Exactly is Observed in the Cosmic Microwave Background?
5.2 Mapping with Light
Type Ia Supernovae and Dark Energy
5.3 The Various “Body Mass Indices” of the Universe
A Map of the Universe
5.4 A Universe in the Computer
Problems in the Simulations
5.5 Is It Possible Without Dark Matter?
Summary
References
6 The Beginning of a Great Search
6.1 Physical Profile of Dark Matter
6.2 The Search for the MACHOs
6.3 Orphaned Stars in the Depths of Space
6.4 The Search in the Standard Model of Particle Physics
A Mini Introduction to the Standard Model of Particle Physics
Once a Hot Candidate - The Neutrino
The Power of the Conservation Laws
Neutrino Sources in the Cosmos
Neutrinos as Dark Matter
6.5 Dark Matter Beyond the Standard Model
The idea of Supersymmetry and the Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP)
The Spin of Elementary Particles
What is a WIMP and Why is it an Ideal Candidate for Dark Matter?
The Axion
The Sterile Neutrino
Summary
References
7 What is hidden under the Cap of Hades
7.1 The Indirect Search for Dark Matter
The Positron Excess—A Signal from Dark Matter?
Gamma Radiation from the Center of our Galaxy Through WIMPs?
Do Neutrino Observatories See Dark Matter?
7.2 The Direct Search for Dark Matter
Many Experiments—One Goal
Darkness that Warms
The CRESST Experiment
The Four Seasons of WIMP Detection
The CoGeNT Experiment
Is the WIMP and thus Dark Matter Now Discovered?
Dark matter in the Particle Accelerator
Summary
References
8 Concluding Remarks
References
Index
