Dark Matter Abstract
Dark Matter (Review)
Dark Matter (Review)
Kenneth Lathrom
Kenneth Lathrom
6th Period
Dark matter is the missing piece to the astronomical equation of galactic gravitation. Simply put it is the objects we do not know and cannot see that explain why the farthest planets don’t follow the “norm” and hurtle away from the center of their designated galaxy. Astrophycists have been looking for signs of these unseen particles. Having theorized that when two dark matter particles collide they give off an electron and positron, researchers have reviewed countless data records for such emissions. A positron, for added measure, is the anti-matter equivalent of an electron. How do these men or women of science measure such an unknown object? Well according to Chris Larson they do so by watching for change. The Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter (ATIC) is one method used to better understand dark matter. The ATIC is a balloon-borne instrument flying in the stratosphere over Antarctica to measure the energy and composition of cosmic rays. By looking at the changes in electron and positron energy output and composition researchers attempted to prove just the existence of dark matter back in 2008. They argued that a higher than expected numerical outcome could be attributed to dark matter. Another study done in May challenges that of the ATIC. This study conducted using data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope was presented by the researchers at the American Physical Society meeting in Denver, Colorado, in April 2009. Steven Ritz an active researcher rejected the findings at the ATIC in saying "We have much better statistics and can tell you we do not see so extreme a feature." The Fermi Telescope built by NASA is an orbiting observatory used to detect high energy outputs, originally designed for gamma-rays. Yes gamma-rays like the incredible Hulk only scientifically accurate. Both cases have their flaws as the Fermi telescope was not built to identify the
Dark Matter (Review)
Kenneth Lathrom
Kenneth Lathrom
6th Period
Dark matter is the missing piece to the astronomical equation of galactic gravitation. Simply put it is the objects we do not know and cannot see that explain why the farthest planets don’t follow the “norm” and hurtle away from the center of their designated galaxy. Astrophycists have been looking for signs of these unseen particles. Having theorized that when two dark matter particles collide they give off an electron and positron, researchers have reviewed countless data records for such emissions. A positron, for added measure, is the anti-matter equivalent of an electron. How do these men or women of science measure such an unknown object? Well according to Chris Larson they do so by watching for change. The Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter (ATIC) is one method used to better understand dark matter. The ATIC is a balloon-borne instrument flying in the stratosphere over Antarctica to measure the energy and composition of cosmic rays. By looking at the changes in electron and positron energy output and composition researchers attempted to prove just the existence of dark matter back in 2008. They argued that a higher than expected numerical outcome could be attributed to dark matter. Another study done in May challenges that of the ATIC. This study conducted using data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope was presented by the researchers at the American Physical Society meeting in Denver, Colorado, in April 2009. Steven Ritz an active researcher rejected the findings at the ATIC in saying "We have much better statistics and can tell you we do not see so extreme a feature." The Fermi Telescope built by NASA is an orbiting observatory used to detect high energy outputs, originally designed for gamma-rays. Yes gamma-rays like the incredible Hulk only scientifically accurate. Both cases have their flaws as the Fermi telescope was not built to identify the
References: Larson, Chris. "Dark Matter." Science Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin=TSs1700072&SingleRecord=True>.