Flatiron Seminar Series: Mariangela Lisanti

Title: Running a Dark Matter Experiment on a Galaxy

Abstract: The vast majority of matter is invisible to us. The gravitational effects of this ‘dark matter’ play a critical role in explaining the cosmological evolution of the Universe and the distribution of galaxies on the largest scales. Despite this overwhelming evidence, much about the dark matter remains a mystery to us, such as its mass and interactions. This talk will focus on how to use the properties of individual galaxies to discover the fundamental nature of this mysterious form of matter. In particular, we will highlight how recent advancements in simulation modeling, coupled with anticipated data from astrophysical observatories, will turn galaxies into an experimental testing ground for dark matter over the next decade.