Dark matter and cosmology

Conference · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5368837

Schramm, D N

The cosmological dark matter problem is reviewed. The Big Bang Nucleosynthesis constraints on the baryon density are compared with the densities implied by visible matter, dark halos, dynamics of clusters, gravitational lenses, large-scale velocity flows, and the {Omega} = 1 flatness/inflation argument. It is shown that (1) the majority of baryons are dark; and (2) non-baryonic dark matter is probably required on large scales. It is also noted that halo dark matter could be either baryonic or non-baryonic. Descrimination between cold'' and hot'' non-baryonic candidates is shown to depend on the assumed seeds'' that stimulate structure formation. Gaussian density fluctuations, such as those induced by quantum fluctuations, favor cold dark matter, whereas topological defects such as strings, textures or domain walls may work equally or better with hot dark matter. A possible connection between cold dark matter, globular cluster ages and the Hubble constant is mentioned. Recent large-scale structure measurements, coupled with microwave anisotropy limits, are shown to raise some questions for the previously favored density fluctuation picture. Accelerator and underground limits on dark matter candidates are also reviewed.

• Research Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Lab., Batavia, IL (United States); Chicago Univ., IL (United States). Dept. of Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA); National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (United States); National Science Foundation, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03000; FG02-91ER40606
• OSTI ID: 5368837
• Report Number(s): FNAL/C-92/88-A; CONF-9109182-3; ON: DE92013023; CNN: AST 90-22629; NAGW 2381
• Resource Relation: Conference: 2. international workshop on theoretical and phenomenological aspects of underground physics, Toledo (Spain), 9-13 Sep 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMOLOGY
NONLUMINOUS MATTER
BARYONS
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
RELICT RADIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATTER
MICROWAVE RADIATION
RADIATIONS
SYNTHESIS
661300* - Other Aspects of Physical Science- (1992-)