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Question
Steve,
Will the new model, which doubles existing estimates for the size of super massive black holes, affect current predictions regarding dark matter?
Thanks,
Paul
No, actually. We knew galaxies had massive centers, it's the increase in speed of rotation *against* that model as you go towards the edge of the galaxies that lets us know they're full of diffuse "dark matter" that only interacts gravitationally. In a way, this may make dark matter's existence even more obvious, since there's really no way you can explain the increase in rotational velocity as you get away from the center without something like it.
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Steve Nelson
Expertise
Fusion, solar flares, cosmic rays, radiation in space, and stellar physics questions. Generally, nuclear-related astrophysics, but I can usually point you in the right direction if it's not nuclear-related or if it's nuclear but not astrophysics.
Experience
Currently a physics professor at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Doctoral dissertation was on a reaction in CNO-cycle fusion, worked in gamma-ray astronomy in the space science division of the naval research laboratory in the high-energy space environment branch.
Organizations
Physics professor at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in physics, research was on nuclear fusion reactions important in stellar fusion.
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