Reconstruction of the Galactic Dark Matter Density from Astronomical Observations and Diffuse Galactic Gamma Rays

Reconstruction of the Galactic Dark Matter Density from Astronomical Observations and Diffuse Galactic Gamma Rays PDF Author: Markus Josef Weber
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Reconstruction of the Galactic Dark Matter Density from Astronomical Observations and Diffuse Galactic Gamma Rays

Reconstruction of the Galactic Dark Matter Density from Astronomical Observations and Diffuse Galactic Gamma Rays PDF Author: Markus Josef Weber
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


Reconstruction of the Galactic Dark Matter Density

Reconstruction of the Galactic Dark Matter Density PDF Author: Markus Weber
Publisher: Sudwestdeutscher Verlag Fur Hochschulschriften AG
ISBN: 9783838123851
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description
This thesis considers the dark matter (DM) density distribution of the Milky Way. The DM is assumed to consist of weakly interacting massive particles. Their density distribution is constrained by astronomical observations. An important constraint is the so-called rotation curve (RC) of the Milky Way, which describes the rotation speed of matter around the Galactic centre as function of Galactocentric distance. It is shown that a ringlike DM component in the Galactic disc is necessary to describe the peculiar dips in the RC at 3 and 9 kpc from the centre in agreement with the dip in the gas flaring of the Milky Way. This substructure effects the local DM density which is of crucial importance for direct DM search experiments. The slight GeV excess in the spectra of diffuse Galactic gamma rays of the EGRET and Fermi satellite data are consistent with this DM density distribution, if this excess is attributed to DM annihilation.

Searching for Dark Matter with Cosmic Gamma Rays

Searching for Dark Matter with Cosmic Gamma Rays PDF Author: Andrea Albert
Publisher: Morgan & Claypool Publishers
ISBN: 1681742691
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
Searching for Dark Matter with Cosmic Gamma Rays summarizes the evidence for dark matter and what we can learn about its particle nature using cosmic gamma rays. It has almost been 100 years since Fritz Zwicky first detected hints that most of the matter in the Universe that doesn't directly emit or reflect light. Since then, the observational evidence for dark matter has continued to grow. Dark matter may be a new kind of particle that is governed by physics beyond our Standard Model of particle physics. In many models, dark matter annihilation or decay produces gamma rays. There are a variety of instruments observing the gamma-ray sky from tens of MeV to hundreds of TeV. Some make deep, focused observations of small regions, while others provide coverage of the entire sky. Each experiment offers complementary sensitivity to dark matter searches in a variety of target sizes, locations, and dark matter mass scales. We review results from recent gamma-ray experiments including anomalies some have attributed to dark matter. We also discuss how our gamma-ray observations complement other dark matter searches and the prospects for future experiments.

Dark Matter In Astroparticle And Particle Physics - Proceedings Of The 6th International Heidelberg Conference

Dark Matter In Astroparticle And Particle Physics - Proceedings Of The 6th International Heidelberg Conference PDF Author: Hans Volker Klapdor-kleingrothaus
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814471178
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 654

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Book Description
Dark matter remains one of the central mysteries in modern physics, although modern astronomical observations and particle physics experiments are providing vital clues in uncovering its true nature. The Dark2007 Conference brought together world-leading researchers in both astrophysics and particle physics, providing them with an opportunity to present their latest results and engage in discussion on their meaning and future direction. This book is important in its field, as it provides a vital snapshot of the seemingly disparate areas of dark matter research and provides an overview of current ideas and future directions.

Progress in Dark Matter Research

Progress in Dark Matter Research PDF Author: J. Val Blain
Publisher: Nova Publishers
ISBN: 9781594542435
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
It is generally believed that most of the matter in the universe is dark, i.e. cannot be detected from the light which it emits (or fails to emit). Its presence is inferred indirectly from the motions of astronomical objects, specifically stellar, galactic, and galaxy cluster/supercluster observations. It is also required in order to enable gravity to amplify the small fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background enough to form the large-scale structures that we see in the universe today. For each of the stellar, galactic, and galaxy cluster/supercluster observations the basic principle is that if we measure velocities in some region, then there has to be enough mass there for gravity to stop all the objects flying apart. Dark matter has important consequences for the evolution of the Universe and the structure within it. According to general relativity, the Universe must conform to one of three possible types: open, flat, or closed. The total amount of mass and energy in the universe determines which of the three possibilities applies to the Universe. In the case of an open Universe, the total mass and energy density (denoted by the Greek letter Omega) is less than unity. If the Universe is closed, Omega is greater than unity. For the case where Omega is exactly equal to one the Universe is "flat". This book details leading-edge research from around the globe.

The Dark Matter Problem

The Dark Matter Problem PDF Author: Robert H. Sanders
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139485733
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 214

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Book Description
Most astronomers and physicists now believe that the matter content of the Universe is dominated by dark matter: hypothetical particles which interact with normal matter primarily through the force of gravity. Though invisible to current direct detection methods, dark matter can explain a variety of astronomical observations. This book describes how this theory has developed over the past 75 years, and why it is now a central feature of extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. Current attempts to directly detect dark matter locally are discussed, together with the implications for particle physics. The author comments on the sociology of these developments, demonstrating how and why scientists work and interact. Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), the leading alternative to this theory, is also presented. This fascinating overview will interest cosmologists, astronomers and particle physicists. Mathematics is kept to a minimum, so the book can be understood by non-specialists.

Light/dark Universe, The: Light From Galaxies, Dark Matter And Dark Energy

Light/dark Universe, The: Light From Galaxies, Dark Matter And Dark Energy PDF Author: Paul S Wesson
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814470007
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 236

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Book Description
To the eyes of the average person and the trained scientist, the night sky is dark, even though the universe is populated by myriads of bright galaxies. Why this happens is a question commonly called Olbers' Paradox, and dates from at least 1823. How dark is the night sky is a question which preoccupies astrophysicists at the present. The answer to both questions tells us about the origin of the universe and the nature of its contents — luminous galaxies like the Milky Way, plus the dark matter between them and the mysterious dark energy which appears to be pushing everything apart. In this book, the fascinating history of Olbers' Paradox is reviewed, and the intricate physics of the light/dark universe is examined in detail. The fact that the night sky is dark (a basic astronomical observation that anybody can make) turns out to be connected with the finite age of the universe, thereby confirming some event like the Big Bang. But the space between the galaxies is not perfectly black, and data on its murkiness at various wavelengths can be used to constrain and identify its unseen constituents.

The Light/Dark Universe

The Light/Dark Universe PDF Author: Paul S. Wesson
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9812834427
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 236

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Book Description
To the eyes of the average person and the trained scientist, the night sky is dark, even though the universe is populated by myriads of bright galaxies. Why this happens is a question commonly called Olbers'' Paradox, and dates from at least 1823. How dark is the night sky is a question which preoccupies astrophysicists at the present. The answer to both questions tells us about the origin of the universe and the nature of its contents OCo luminous galaxies like the Milky Way, plus the dark matter between them and the mysterious dark energy which appears to be pushing everything apart. In this book, the fascinating history of Olbers'' Paradox is reviewed, and the intricate physics of the light/dark universe is examined in detail. The fact that the night sky is dark (a basic astronomical observation that anybody can make) turns out to be connected with the finite age of the universe, thereby confirming some event like the Big Bang. But the space between the galaxies is not perfectly black, and data on its murkiness at various wavelengths can be used to constrain and identify its unseen constituents.

Optimized Dark Matter Searches in Deep Observations of Segue 1 with MAGIC

Optimized Dark Matter Searches in Deep Observations of Segue 1 with MAGIC PDF Author: Jelena Aleksić
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319231235
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 213

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Book Description
This thesis presents the results of indirect dark matter searches in the gamma-ray sky of the near Universe, as seen by the MAGIC Telescopes. The author has proposed and led the 160 hours long observations of the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Segue 1, which is the deepest survey of any such object by any Cherenkov telescope so far. Furthermore, she developed and completely characterized a new method, dubbed “Full Likelihood”, that optimizes the sensitivity of Cherenkov instruments for detection of gamma-ray signals of dark matter origin. Compared to the standard analysis techniques, this novel approach introduces a sensitivity improvement of a factor of two (i.e. it requires 4 times less observation time to achieve the same result). In addition, it allows a straightforward merger of results from different targets and/or detectors. By selecting the optimal observational target and combining its very deep exposure with the Full Likelihood analysis of the acquired data, the author has improved the existing MAGIC bounds to the dark matter properties by more than one order of magnitude. Furthermore, for particles more massive than a few hundred GeV, those are the strongest constraints from dwarf galaxies achieved by any gamma-ray instrument, both ground-based or space-borne alike.

The Role of Halo Substructure in Gamma-Ray Dark Matter Searches

The Role of Halo Substructure in Gamma-Ray Dark Matter Searches PDF Author: Miguel A. Sánchez-Conde
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3039360442
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
An important, open research topic today is to understand the relevance that dark matter halo substructure may have for dark matter searches. In the standard cosmological model, halo substructure or subhalos are predicted to be largely abundant inside larger halos, for example, galaxies such as ours, and are thought to form first and later merge to form larger structures. Dwarf satellite galaxies—the most massive exponents of halo substructure in our own galaxy—are already known to be excellent targets for dark matter searches, and indeed, they are constantly scrutinized by current gamma-ray experiments in the search for dark matter signals. Lighter subhalos not massive enough to have a visible counterpart of stars and gas may be good targets as well, given their typical abundances and distances. In addition, the clumpy distribution of subhalos residing in larger halos may boost the dark matter signals considerably. In an era in which gamma-ray experiments possess, for the first time, the exciting potential to put to test the preferred dark matter particle theories, a profound knowledge of dark matter astrophysical targets and scenarios is mandatory should we aim for accurate predictions of dark matter-induced fluxes for investing significant telescope observing time on selected targets and for deriving robust conclusions from our dark matter search efforts. In this regard, a precise characterization of the statistical and structural properties of subhalos becomes critical. In this Special Issue, we aim to summarize where we stand today on our knowledge of the different aspects of the dark matter halo substructure; to identify what are the remaining big questions, and how we could address these; and, by doing so, to find new avenues for research.