Course Work

Course work will consist of

• 4 Problem sets
• 2 exams: a midterm and a final
• A course project (433 only)
  Students enrolled in 433 will enounter additional problems on the homeworks and exams over and above what is required for 333.

The project will explore some current aspect of the mass discrepancy problem: observational clues, experimental searches, or theoretical developments. It will culminate in an oral presentation on it to the class. Prior to the presentation, you will write an absract for distribution to the class. Presentations will be scheduled towards the end of the semester.

Projects must be selected in consultation with Prof. McGaugh.

Ideas for projects (this list is meant to be suggestive. It is neither complete nor exclusive.)

• Dark Matter candidates (hypotheses & motivations)
  • WIMPs & Supersymmetry
  • Axions
  • Strange Nuggets
  • MACHOs
  • Cold molecular gas
  • &c.
• Dark Matter detection experiments
  • Direct detection, e.g., CDMS, LUX, DAMA, etc.
  • Indirect detection, e.g., Fermi (γ-rays); Ice Cube (neutrinos)
  • Microlensing searches for MACHOs
  • Collider constraints (i.e., should the LHC see evidence for DM particles)
  • &c.
• Astronomical constraints
  • There are many, many possibilities here
  • Individual galaxies
  • Classes of galaxies (e.g., dwarf Spheroidals)
  • Clusters of galaxies
  • Gravitational lensing
  • Large scale structure
  • The cosmic microwave background
  • &c.
• &c.