Could Black Holes Explain Dark Matter?

Presenter(s)

Kathryn Harris, Judit Bergfalk, Raphael Hatami, Rachel Vititoe

Abstract or Description

Researchers have observed that some of the stars around a galactic center are rotating faster than expected. Is there something we cannot see, or do we need to modify our laws of physics? There is evidence indicating that an additional component of the galaxy has not been accounted for. Both astronomers and physicists are focusing on finding this missing ingredient they simply call ‘dark matter’. Two of the possible types of objects they are considering are the elegantly named MACHOs (Massive Compact Halo Objects) and WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles). The main focus of our research is to model the known components of the galaxy and investigate the effects on the rotation of stars. As a result, our rotation curve analyses of four galaxies confirm a "missing mass component." While scientists have traditionally modeled ‘dark matter’ as a microscopic particle, we consider the claim that it may actually be reasonable-sized black holes floating around the galaxy. The straightforward interactive plot available for the general public allows the user to explore these ideas themselves and compare them to the measured velocities.