Is Dark Matter Absorbing Photons and Emitting Undetectable Radiation?

[rp1220]

If dark matter is real matter out there in space, it must be absorbing photons from adjacent stars and other bodies. Also, by definition, it is not emitting any radiation, so it must be inexorably heating up. Is this sustainable, or will it cause some sort of explosion or start the body on an emission path later. Or is there some other way in which it could be losing heat ?

Another question on this matter. Has anyone established whether dark matter is actually emitting radiation but this is so weak that our detectors cannot “see” the emitting body.

 

[Drakkith]

Dark matter isn't "real matter". Calculations have shown that the amount of mass required to account for the discrepancies we see in galaxy rotations and other phenomena is extremely high. So high that there must be large amounts of dark matter around, and if light passing through dark matter were absorbed in any great amounts we would immediately see it as a dark spot against the background stars and galaxies. It's possible that dark matter absorbs and emits EM radiation, but with a cross section so low that we can't see it, but then it wouldn't be heating up.

 

[Mordred]

More specifically dark matter is considerably different than what is loosely termed "real" matter. Normal matter is called baryonic matter. Dark matter being considered as non baryonic. Dark matter is only known to interact with normal matter via the gravitational force. It is not known if it intrracts with the electromagnetic force. the wak nuclear or the strong nuclear force. Its considered as weakly interactive due to the above.
As its so weakly interactive it is also difficult to detect.
Locations of dark matter has been mapped via its effect on gravity,
Needless to say there is a lot we don't know about dark matter.

 

[Chalnoth]

If dark matter is real matter out there in space, it must be absorbing photons from adjacent stars and other bodies.

Nope. Photon absorption only happens if the matter is made out of charged particles. As long as dark matter has no electric charge (and isn't made out of smaller parts with electric charge), it won't ever absorb a photon.

Because of this, we're pretty sure that dark matter doesn't have any electric charge at all. Otherwise we would have seen it by now.

 

[sardar]

I can provide some insights into the attributes of dark matter and address the questions raised. Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that is believed to make up about 85% of the total matter in the universe. It is called "dark" because it does not interact with light and therefore cannot be observed directly. Its presence is inferred through its gravitational effects on visible matter.

Regarding the first question, if dark matter is indeed absorbing photons from adjacent stars and other bodies, it would not cause an explosion or emission path later on. This is because dark matter is spread out throughout the universe and does not clump together like visible matter. Therefore, any heating up due to absorption of photons would be evenly distributed and not concentrated enough to cause an explosion or emission.

As for the sustainability of this process, it is difficult to say for certain as we do not have a complete understanding of dark matter. However, based on current theories, the absorption of photons would likely continue at a steady rate without any significant consequences.

To address the second question, it is possible that dark matter is emitting radiation, but at a very weak level that our current detectors cannot detect. This is a topic of ongoing research and there have been some attempts to detect dark matter using different methods, such as looking for gamma ray signals or studying the cosmic microwave background radiation. So far, there has been no conclusive evidence of dark matter emitting radiation.

In conclusion, the attributes of dark matter are still largely unknown and require further research and observation. While we have some theories and evidence to support its existence, there is still much to learn about this mysterious form of matter.