A Ray of Light in a Sea of Dark Matter

Charles Keeton

Published by Rutgers University Press 2015

A Ray of Light in a Sea of Dark Matter

Charles Keeton

In the series Pinpoints

https://doi.org/10.36019/9780813565323

Overview
Contents

About this book

What’s in the dark? Countless generations have gazed up at the night sky and asked this question—the same question that cosmologists ask themselves as they study the universe.

The answer turns out to be surprising and rich. The space between stars is filled with an exotic substance called “dark matter” that exerts gravity but does not emit, absorb, or reflect light. The space between galaxies is rife with “dark energy” that creates a sort of cosmic antigravity causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate. Together, dark matter and dark energy account for 95 percent of the content of the universe. News reporters and science journalists routinely talk about these findings using terms that they assume we have a working knowledge of, but do you really understand how astronomers arrive at their findings or what it all means?

Cosmologists face a conundrum: how can we study substances we cannot see, let alone manipulate? A powerful approach is to observe objects whose motion is influenced by gravity. Einstein predicted that gravity can act like a lens to bend light. Today we see hundreds of cases of this—instances where the gravity of a distant galaxy distorts our view of a more distant object, creating multiple images or spectacular arcs on the sky. Gravitational lensing is now a key part of the international quest to understand the invisible substance that surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the universe together.

A Ray of Light in a Sea of Dark Matter offers readers a concise, accessible explanation of how astronomers probe dark matter. Readers quickly gain an understanding of what might be out there, how scientists arrive at their findings, and why this research is important to us. Engaging and insightful, Charles Keeton gives everyone an opportunity to be an active learner and listener in our ever-expanding universe.

Watch a video with Charles Keeton:

Watch video now. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc3byXNS1G0).

Author information

CHARLES KEETON is an associate professor of physics and astronomy at Rutgers University. He has worked with the Hubble Space Telescope and observatories in Arizona and Chile, and published more than 90 articles in astronomy journals. In 2010, Dr. Keeton received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from President Barack Obama.

Topics

General Interest

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
1. What’s in the Dark? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. When Mass Is Like Glass Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	11
3. How Do You Weigh a Galaxy? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	22
4. Is Dark Matter MACHO or WIMPy? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	33
5. Finding What’s Missing Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	46
6. “A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	55
Glossary Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	67
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	73
Notes on Sources Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	75
About the Author Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	89

Language: English
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Audience: General/trade;
Pages
- Main content: 104
Illustrations
- Other: 15 b-w images

eBook

Published: April 30, 2014
ISBN: 9780813565323