Dark Energy and Dark Matter

A special issue of Universe (ISSN 2218-1997). This special issue belongs to the section "Cosmology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 16 May 2025 | Viewed by 4443

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: dark energy; dark matter; large-scale structure; epoch of reionization; cosmic infrared background

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Dark energy and dark matter are of immense importance in current astronomy and physics research. Understanding their nature is of great significance when studying the origin, evolution, and ultimate fate of our Universe, and will promote the development of fundamental physics. Currently, various theoretical models of dark energy and dark matter have been proposed; various cosmological probes or means are used to test these models, such as Type Ia supernova (SN Ia), baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO), cosmic microwave background (CMB), gravitational lensing, galaxy clustering, cosmic void, intensity mapping, direct or indirect detection, etc. In addition, a series of next-generation ground- and space-based cosmological surveys will be launched over the next few years. The next decade is anticipated to be a golden age for cosmological studies, especially in relation to dark energy and dark matter.

This Special Issue aims to collect the latest studies on dark energy, dark matter, and modified gravity, including theories and observational results. Original research studies in the form of letters and articles are welcome. Predictions of future projects or new detection methods are also encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Yan Gong
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • dark energy
  • dark matter
  • modified gravity
  • theoretical model
  • cosmic acceleration
  • cosmic large-scale structure
  • gravitational lensing
  • galaxy clustering
  • intensity mapping
  • cosmological constraint

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 835 KiB  
Article
Primordial Axion Stars and Galaxy Halo Formation
by Alexander I. Nesterov
Universe 2024, 10(9), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10090369 - 12 Sep 2024
Viewed by 405
Abstract
Primordial axion stars, hypothetical stars formed from axions, could play an essential role in forming galaxy halos. These stars could have originated in the early universe shortly after the Big Bang. We show that the ultralight axions forming primordial stars can act as [...] Read more.
Primordial axion stars, hypothetical stars formed from axions, could play an essential role in forming galaxy halos. These stars could have originated in the early universe shortly after the Big Bang. We show that the ultralight axions forming primordial stars can act as the initial seeds for galaxy halos. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dark Energy and Dark Matter)
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24 pages, 1325 KiB  
Article
Non-Canonical Dark Energy Parameter Evolution in a Canonical Quintessence Cosmology
by Rodger I. Thompson
Universe 2024, 10(9), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10090356 - 5 Sep 2024
Viewed by 432
Abstract
This study considers the specific case of a flat, minimally coupled to gravity, quintessence cosmology with a dark energy quartic polynomial potential that has the same mathematical form as the Higgs potential. Previous work on this case determined that the scalar field is [...] Read more.
This study considers the specific case of a flat, minimally coupled to gravity, quintessence cosmology with a dark energy quartic polynomial potential that has the same mathematical form as the Higgs potential. Previous work on this case determined that the scalar field is given by a simple expression of the Lambert W function in terms of the easily observable scale factor. This expression provides analytic equations for the evolution of cosmological dark energy parameters as a function of the scale factor for all points on the Lambert W function principal branch. The Lambert W function is zero at a scale factor of zero that marks the big bang. The evolutionary equations beyond the big bang describe a canonical universe that is similar to ΛCDM, making it an excellent dynamical template to compare with observational data. The portion of the W function principal before the big bang extends to the infinite pre-bang past. It describes a noncanonical universe with an initially very low mass density that contracts by rolling down the dark energy potential to a singularity, big bang, at the scale factor zero point. This provides a natural origin for the big bang. It also raises the possibility that the universe existed before the big bang and is far older, and that it was once far larger than its current size. The recent increasing interest in the possibility of a dynamical universe instead of ΛCDM makes the exploration of the nature of such universes particularly relevant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dark Energy and Dark Matter)
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21 pages, 2528 KiB  
Article
On Dark Matter and Dark Energy in CCC+TL Cosmology
by Rajendra P. Gupta
Universe 2024, 10(6), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10060266 - 18 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 968
Abstract
Relaxing the temporal constancy constraint on coupling constants in an expanding universe results in Friedmann equations containing terms that may be interpreted as dark energy and dark matter. When tired light (TL) was considered to complement the redshift due to the expanding universe, [...] Read more.
Relaxing the temporal constancy constraint on coupling constants in an expanding universe results in Friedmann equations containing terms that may be interpreted as dark energy and dark matter. When tired light (TL) was considered to complement the redshift due to the expanding universe, the resulting covarying coupling constants (CCC+TL) model not only fit the Type Ia supernovae data as precisely as the ΛCDM model, but also resolved concerns about the angular size of cosmic dawn galaxies observed by the James Webb Space Telescope. The model was recently shown to be compliant with the baryon acoustic oscillation features in the galaxy distribution and the cosmic microwave background (CMB). This paper demonstrates that dark energy and dark matter of the standard ΛCDM model are not arbitrary but can be derived from the CCC approach based on Dirac’s 1937 hypothesis. The energy densities associated with dark matter and dark energy turn out to be about the same in the ΛCDM and the CCC+TL models. However, the critical density in the new model can only account for the baryonic matter in the universe, raising concerns about how to account for observations requiring dark matter. We therefore analyze some key parameters of structure formation and show how they are affected in the absence of dark matter in the CCC+TL scenario. It requires reconsidering alternatives to dark matter to explain observations on gravitationally bound structures. Incidentally, since the CCC models inherently have no dark energy, it has no coincidence problem. The model’s consistency with the CMB power spectrum, BBN element abundances, and other critical observations is yet to be established. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dark Energy and Dark Matter)
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27 pages, 4227 KiB  
Article
A Search for Magnetized Quark Nuggets (MQNs), a Candidate for Dark Matter, Accumulating in Iron Ore
by J. Pace VanDevender, T. Sloan and Michael Glissman
Universe 2024, 10(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10010027 - 9 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1557
Abstract
A search has been carried out for Magnetized Quark Nuggets (MQNs) accumulating in iron ore over geologic time. MQNs, which are theoretically consistent with the Standard Models of Physics and of Cosmology, have been suggested as dark-matter candidates. Indirect evidence of MQNs has [...] Read more.
A search has been carried out for Magnetized Quark Nuggets (MQNs) accumulating in iron ore over geologic time. MQNs, which are theoretically consistent with the Standard Models of Physics and of Cosmology, have been suggested as dark-matter candidates. Indirect evidence of MQNs has been previously inferred from observations of magnetars and of non-meteorite impact craters. It is shown in this paper that MQNs can accumulate in taconite (iron ore) and be transferred into ferromagnetic rod-mill liners during processing of the ore. When the liners are recycled to make fresh steel, they are heated to higher than the Curie temperature so that their ferromagnetic properties are destroyed. The MQNs would then be released and fall into the ferromagnetic furnace bottom where they would be trapped. Three such furnace bottoms have been magnetically scanned to search for the magnetic anomalies consistent with trapped MQNs. The observed magnetic anomalies are equivalent to an accumulation rate of ~1 kg of MQNs per 1.2 × 108 kg of taconite ore processed. The results are consistent with MQNs but there could be other, unknown explanations. We propose an experiment and calculations to definitively test the MQN hypothesis for dark matter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dark Energy and Dark Matter)
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