Mapping dark matter in the universe

绘制宇宙中的暗物质图

• 批准号: 327288-2009
• 负责人: Taylor, James
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2009-01-01 至 2010-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=428755
• 关键词: Mapping; dark; matter; universe

We now have strong evidence from many different types of astronomical observations that most of the matter in our universe is dark matter, an exotic substance that does not produce or interact with light almost at all. This dark matter, which manifests itself only through its gravitational effects, provides the scaffolding within which luminous structures such as galaxies can form, and thus it plays a vital role in cosmology. Furthermore, although the particle nature of dark matter is still unknown, the candidate particle or particles are constrained to lie outside the current 'standard model' of particle physics. Thus, the identification of dark matter is a top priority both for astrophysicists and for particle physicists. Knowing exactly where to look for dark matter is an important first step. The main goal of my research programme is to understand and to map out the distribution of dark matter in the universe, particularly on small scales where it is the most uncertain. Using novel computational techniques, I will model the dark matter distribution within our Galaxy and within our Solar System at unprecedented resolution. These models will be applied to the analysis of ongoing experiments in dark matter detection. I will also use gravitational lensing, the deflection of light as it passes through a gravitational field, to map small-scale dark matter structures in galaxy clusters, and to study how they evolve as clusters grow. Finally, I will search around the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies for very faint 'dwarf' galaxies that trace dark matter on the smallest scales.

我们现在从许多不同类型的天文观测中得到了强有力的证据，表明我们宇宙中的大部分物质是暗物质，一种几乎完全不产生光或与光相互作用的奇异物质。这种暗物质仅通过其引力效应表现出来，它为星系等发光结构的形成提供了脚手架，因此它在宇宙学中起着至关重要的作用。此外，尽管暗物质的粒子性质仍然未知，但候选粒子或粒子被限制在当前粒子物理学的“标准模型”之外。因此，暗物质的识别是天体物理学家和粒子物理学家的首要任务。确切知道在哪里寻找暗物质是重要的第一步。我的研究计划的主要目标是了解和绘制暗物质在宇宙中的分布，特别是在最不确定的小尺度上。使用新颖的计算技术，我将以前所未有的分辨率模拟银河系和太阳系内的暗物质分布。这些模型将应用于正在进行的暗物质探测实验的分析。我还将使用引力透镜，光在通过引力场时的偏转，来绘制星系团中的小尺度暗物质结构，并研究它们是如何随着星系团的增长而演变的。最后，我将在银河系和其他附近的星系中寻找非常微弱的“矮”星系，这些星系可以在最小的尺度上追踪暗物质。