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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Measuring The Mass Distribution In Galaxy Clusters, Margaret J. Geller, Antonaldo Diaferio, Kenneth J. Rines, Ana Laura Serra Feb 2013

Measuring The Mass Distribution In Galaxy Clusters, Margaret J. Geller, Antonaldo Diaferio, Kenneth J. Rines, Ana Laura Serra

Physics & Astronomy

Cluster mass profiles are tests of models of structure formation. Only two current observational methods of determining the mass profile, gravitational lensing, and the caustic technique are independent of the assumption of dynamical equilibrium. Both techniques enable the determination of the extended mass profile at radii beyond the virial radius. For 19 clusters, we compare the mass profile based on the caustic technique with weak lensing measurements taken from the literature. This comparison offers a test of systematic issues in both techniques. Around the virial radius, the two methods of mass estimation agree to within ~30%, consistent with the expected …


The Propagation Of Light Through Dark Matter, Audrey Kvam Jan 2013

The Propagation Of Light Through Dark Matter, Audrey Kvam

Summer Research

A concordance of observations indicates that around 80% of the matter in the universe is some unknown dark matter. This dark matter could be comprised of a single structureless particle, but much richer theories exist. Signals from the DAMA, CoGeNT, and CDMS-II dark matter detectors along with the non-observation of dark matter by other detectors motivate theories of composite dark matter along with a “dark” electromagnetic sector. The composite models propose baryon-like or atom-like dark matter. If photons kinetically mix with the “dark” photons, then light traveling through dark matter will experience dispersion. We expect the dispersion to be approximated …


A Lagrangian Which Mathematically Models Lambda Cdm Cosmology And Explains The Null Results Of Dark Astroparticle Searches., Hontas Farmer Dec 2012

A Lagrangian Which Mathematically Models Lambda Cdm Cosmology And Explains The Null Results Of Dark Astroparticle Searches., Hontas Farmer

Hontas F Farmer

Background: The Lambda CDM model or is the standard model of modern cosmology. It is named for dark energy and cold dark matter. This model contains a number of separate components with different mathematical formulations. Strong observational evidence for dark matter has been found by astronomy. At the same time astroparticle physics observations have not found solid evidence of dark matter. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to reconcile observations of dark matter effects on the galactic and cosmological scales with the null results of astroparticle physics observations such as CDMS and ANTARES. This paper will also provide a …