Percentage of dark matter in universe
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Percentage of Dark Matter in the Universe
Overview of Dark Matter Composition
Dark matter constitutes a significant portion of the universe's mass. Current estimates suggest that approximately 25% of the universe's mass is made up of dark matter2 4 6. This non-luminous matter does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects on visible matter, radiation, and the large-scale structure of the universe.
Observational Evidence and Measurements
Rotation Curves and Gravitational Lensing
The existence of dark matter is supported by various observational evidence. One of the primary pieces of evidence comes from the rotation curves of galaxies, which show that the outer regions of galaxies rotate faster than can be accounted for by the visible matter alone2. Additionally, gravitational lensing measurements, where light from distant objects is bent by the gravitational field of a massive object, also indicate the presence of substantial amounts of unseen mass2.
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and Galaxy Formation
Further evidence comes from the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) observations and the study of galaxy formation. The CMB provides a snapshot of the early universe, and its anisotropies suggest a universe composed of about 25% dark matter2. The formation and distribution of galaxies also require the presence of dark matter to explain the observed structures2.
Theoretical Calculations and Consensus
Theoretical models and calculations align closely with observational data. For instance, theoretical calculations estimate that dark matter makes up about 22.7% of the universe, which is consistent with observed values8. These models are based on the unified theory of physics and the zero-energy universe concept, which also predicts the ratio of dark matter to baryonic matter to be approximately 5 to 18.
Distribution of Dark Matter
Scale-Dependent Distribution
The fraction of dark matter varies depending on the scale of observation. In the solar neighborhood, dark matter constitutes about 50% of the gravitating mass, whereas in the largest clusters and superclusters of galaxies, this fraction can be as high as 99% or more1. This scale-dependent distribution highlights the pervasive nature of dark matter across different cosmic structures.
Critical Density and Dark Matter
Dark matter contributes significantly to the critical density of the universe. Estimates suggest that the dark matter associated with bright galaxies contributes between 10% and 30% of the critical density5 9. This is in stark contrast to luminous matter, which contributes less than 1%5 9.
Conclusion
In summary, dark matter is a crucial component of the universe, making up approximately 25% of its total mass. This conclusion is supported by a wide range of observational evidence, including galaxy rotation curves, gravitational lensing, CMB observations, and galaxy formation studies. Theoretical models and calculations further corroborate these findings, providing a consistent picture of the universe's composition. Understanding dark matter remains one of the most significant challenges in cosmology, with ongoing research aimed at uncovering its true nature and properties.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
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