Robert Mostoghiu (Swinburne)

3:30pm Wednesday August 2, 2023
Geoff Opat Seminar Room

Cosmological simulations and the search for dark matter

The use of cosmological simulations has proven to be an important tool in the search for dark matter. Since we have no way of replicating the initial conditions of our Universe, these simulations allow us to better understand the effects of different dark matter models on the formation of galaxies. This information is then used to guide experimental and theoretical efforts in the ongoing search for dark matter.

During this talk, I will go over the basic components of a cosmological simulation and highlight the main dark matter candidates currently being studied. I will also discuss some of the most significant technical limitations associated with these simulations and explore possible ways to overcome them, focusing on warm dark matter as the simplest extension of our current cosmological model.