Can dark matter be explained by black holes?

Question

As I understand it, dark matter is presumed to be there because there needs to be more mass in the galaxy to hold it all together. And with black holes being hard to detect especially a supermassive one at the centre of the galaxy, could dark matter just be black holes?

Answer 1

In part, possibly. They call them rogue black holes because they're thought to be just wandering through space without any companion objects, or accretion disks to give them away. They'd be small, not galactic black hole. This isn't the popular explanation though.

At present, the most common view is that dark matter is primarily non-baryonic, made of one or more elementary particles other than the usual electrons, protons, neutrons, and known neutrinos. The most commonly proposed particles are axions, sterile neutrinos, and WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, including neutralinos). None of these are part of the standard model of particle physics, but they can arise in extensions to the standard model. Many supersymmetric models naturally give rise to stable WIMPs in the form of neutralinos. Heavy, sterile neutrinos exist in extensions to the standard model that explain the small neutrino mass through the seesaw mechanism.

Recently, scientists have created dark matter maps within the universe:
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/011029_normal_universe.html

Answer 2

Black holes are made from matter and probably dark matter too. Black holes are relatively easy to find compared to dark matter.

Dark matter is matter which theoretically exists, it has mass but doesn't interact with normal matter, as such it is very hard to detect.

Black holes were at one point thought to be a good way to explain the missing mass of the universe, however even adding black holes doesn't give the whole mass of the universe. Neutrinos have also been suggested but again still not enough mass.

Answer 3

I suppose it could but am still reading some Hawkins stuff so I might know better when I have finished (doubt it though) However I think the point about dark matter is that the lack of mass is general not just in isolated pockets which it would have to be for a black hole to be the answer

Answer 4

Unfortunately no ("unfortunately", because we'd then have a good explanation). Black holes, despite being black, will have localized effect of gravitational lensing that allows them to be detected, and current theories do not account for the presence of enough of them to make for the gravitational effect that is noted in galaxies. For the observed effect, dark matter has to be 5 times more abundant than normal matter. To have than many black holes roaming about would mean havoc everywhere.

Answer 5

Not really. Prof Stephen Hawking would have latched onto that by now as they are his speciality. As I understand it Astrophysicists are approaching dark matter from two directions. Mathematical, using the 11 dimensional string theory model to prove its existence conclusively and physical which is the search for the elusive boson particle or so called "God" particle. Graviton particle detection figures in the middle somewhere. Professor Michio Kaku's book Parallel Worlds is a good read on string theory and the like, if somewhat heavy going in places.

Answer 6

No. The thing is that the form/rotation of galxies requires there to be a lot more mass in the outer parts of the galaxies. Having a lot more mass at the center would not explain the behavior we've seen displayed by galaxies.

Answer 7

Hmm... W.I.M.P.S or M.A.C.H.O.S ? It is known that Massive Astronomical Compact Halo Objects account for some of the mass of the universe, but this, alas, is only in the 10% we can account for. Weakly Interactive Massive ParticleS are what are thought to account for the other 90%. M..A.C.H.O.S are self explanatory, whereas W.I.M.P.S are particles (such as neutrinos )which are very interactive with matter and therefore nearly impossible to detect.

Answer 8

Nope, because the gravitational effect of blackholes can be (and is) measured. From that, the mass of the blackholes can be calculated and, unfortuately, it still doesn't help to find that missing mass.

String Theory holds the best answer for dark matter, being the gravitational effect from matter in a neighbouring brane.

Answer 9

No.

Black holes are detectable.

Dark matter is not.

Answer 10

no......i mean dark matter is found everiwhere in the space....if dat was right den we will be all suked in in one massive blak hole.

surely it might have something to to with it-but dont get confused with dark and blak!
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