Quantum mechanics explains reality at small scales, and some cases show its effects at observable scales, like superfluids and collapsed star interiors. There's a theory that a quantum mechanical wave of axionic dark matter fills our galaxy, explaining 80% of the universe's mass as dark matter. WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles) are a popular cold dark matter candidate, but they haven't been detected. Axionic dark matter, with extremely low masses, could offer an alternative explanation for dark matter and possibly better explain the universe's structures. It behaves like a superfluid on galactic scales, which is different from WIMPs but can produce similar gravitational effects. Upcoming surveys may detect this "fuzzy" dark matter. It's also tied to string theory. The debate continues over which model best explains dark matter.
Sure, here are the key facts extracted from the provided text:
1. Quantum mechanics is successful at describing small scales of reality.
2. Quantum features manifest in things like superfluids and the interiors of collapsed stars.
3. A reverberating quantum mechanical wave may hold the galaxy together and explain dark matter.
4. Around 80% of the mass of the universe is dark matter.
5. Dark matter is needed to hold galaxies together and allow galaxy formation.
6. Cold dark matter, like WIMPs, is a prevalent model in cosmology.
7. WIMPs are weakly interacting massive particles.
8. Axions are a candidate for dark matter that could behave differently.
9. Axions have extremely low mass and exhibit quantum behavior on galactic scales.
10. Axions may form a superfluid as a form of dark matter.
11. Cold dark matter models like WIMPs struggle to explain fine details of structure formation.
12. Axionic dark matter, with extremely low mass, may address structure formation issues.
13. Fuzzy Dark Matter with axions could be detectable through interference patterns.
14. Extremely light axions are predicted by string theory.
15. Dark matter models, whether WIMPs or axions, continue to be explored in cosmology.
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