Dark Matter and the Cosmic Microwave Background in Indian Astronomy

The observed rotation curves of galaxies suggest that the mass of galaxies is significantly greater than what can be accounted for by visible matter, indicating the presence of Dark Matter.

Vikram Sarabhai, often referred to as the father of the Indian space program, made significant contributions to the study of Dark Matter and the Cosmic Microwave Background.

The Cosmic Microwave Background is the remnant radiation from the early universe, shortly after the Big Bang, providing valuable insights into the origin and evolution of the cosmos.

The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) has been at the forefront of research in Dark Matter and the Cosmic Microwave Background, with notable contributions from its scientists.

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are hypothetical particles that are considered to be potential candidates for Dark Matter due to their weak interactions and large mass.

The AstroSat satellite, launched by ISRO, carries instruments dedicated to studying the Cosmic Microwave Background, among other astrophysical phenomena.

The Cosmic Microwave Background serves as a valuable tool in cosmology, providing insights into the origin, age, size, and matter distribution of the universe.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, renowned for his work on stellar evolution and black holes, also made significant contributions to the theoretical understanding of Dark Matter.

The primary challenge in detecting Dark Matter directly lies in its weak interactions with ordinary matter, making it difficult to observe and study.

Tarun Souradeep, an Indian astrophysicist, made significant contributions to the analysis of Cosmic Microwave Background data from the Planck satellite.

The primary goal of the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) satellite mission is to directly detect Dark Matter particles and study their properties.

Multiple Indian institutions, including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and Physical Research Laboratory, are involved in the development of instruments for the study of Dark Matter and the Cosmic Microwave Background.

Current theories suggest that Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) have a mass range of approximately 10^-24 kg to 10^-20 kg.

Jayant Narlikar, an Indian astrophysicist and cosmologist, is renowned for his work on the formation and evolution of galaxies in the context of Dark Matter.

The primary challenge in studying Dark Matter through gravitational lensing lies in the difficulty of distinguishing the gravitational effects of Dark Matter from those of ordinary matter.