2.2. Dark matter properties

Dark matter properties are discussed in the article by Drees and Gerbier in this volume. The simplest assumption concerning the dark matter is that it has no significant interactions with other matter, and that its particles have a negligible velocity. Such dark matter is described as `cold,' and candidates include the lightest supersymmetric particle, the axion, and primordial black holes. As far as astrophysicists are concerned, a complete specification of the relevant cold dark matter properties is given by the density parameter _cdm, though those seeking to directly detect it are as interested in its interaction properties.

Cold dark matter is the standard assumption and gives an excellent fit to observations, except possibly on the shortest scales where there remains some controversy concerning the structure of dwarf galaxies and possible substructure in galaxy halos. For all the dark matter to have a large velocity dispersion, so-called hot dark matter, has long been excluded as it does not permit galaxies to form; for thermal relics the mass must be above about 1 keV to satisfy this constraint, though relics produced non-thermally, such as the axion, need not obey this limit. However, there remains the possibility that further parameters might need to be introduced to describe dark matter properties relevant to astrophysical observations. Suggestions which have been made include a modest velocity dispersion (warm dark matter) and dark matter self-interactions. There remains the possibility that the dark matter comprises two separate components, e.g., a cold one and a hot one, an example being if massive neutrinos have a non-negligible effect.