1. Dark Energy and Dark Matter
Justin Austenfeld and Kayla Zimmerman
August 3, 2012
Summer Bridge 2012, Appalachian State University

2. What is the rest? Where is it?
What is matter?
Baryonic matter
anything that we can see
17% of all the matter in the universe
less than 5% of everything in the entire universe
What is the rest? Where is it?

3. What is dark matter? Dark matter Well, how do we know it exists?
discovered in 1933 by Fritz Zwicky
emits no light
cannot see it directly
83% of all of the matter in the universe
20% of our universe
Well, how do we know it exists?

4. Proof of dark matter Gravitational lensing
Gravitational lensing
a lot of mass = a lot of gravity
a lot of gravity = bending of light

5. Proof of dark matter (cont.)
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
Gamma rays are produced by colliding dark matter particles
Fermi was launched four years ago to detect collisions
Not enough data to prove anything yet

6. Dark matter in recent news
A filament found between two galaxy clusters
58 million light-years in length, 3 million thick
40,000+ galaxies behind the area were observed

7. Dark energy Theories to explain dark energy: Discovered in 1998
Universe is expanding, and expansion is accelerating
Theories to explain dark energy:
Complex property of space itself
The universe has its own form of energy
New form of dynamic force
Einstein’s theory of a “cosmological constant” is flawed

8. …And viewers like you. THANK YOU!
Acknowledgements
Dr. Burris
Dr. Tashakkori
Dr. Schwab
Dr. Kurtz
Matthew SeGall
The Summer Bridge Program
Appalachian State University
The National Science Foundation
…And viewers like you. THANK YOU!

9. Cited Sources
FRS110. “History of Dark Matter.” (accessed 7/22/2012) Giancoli, D. C. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics. Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, FRS110. “Dark Energy.” (accessed 7/22/2012) NASA. “SIM PlanetQuest to Predict Date of Cosmic Collision.” (accessed 7/22/2012) NASA. “What Is Dark Matter?” 12/features/what-is-dark-matter.html (accessed 7/22/2012) NASA. “Dark Energy, Dark Matter.” areas/what-is-dark-energy/ (accessed 7/26/2012) Los Angeles Times. “Dark matter filament found, scientists say.” (accessed 7/26/2012) Discovery Channel Online. “10 Things you didn't know about dark energy.” . (accessed 7/26/12)