BaumgarteShapiro

BaumgarteShapiro is a theoretical concept in astrophysics that attempts to describe the nature of dark matter. Proposed by scientists John Baumgarte and Michael Shapiro, the theory suggests that dark matter may not be composed of exotic particles, but rather of a novel form of condensed matter or a superfluid state of baryonic matter. This contrasts with the prevailing Lambda-CDM model, which posits dark matter as non-baryonic, weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) or axions.

The BaumgarteShapiro model explores the possibility that the observed gravitational effects attributed to dark matter could arise from the collective behavior of ordinary matter under extreme conditions, such as those found in the early universe or within the cores of galaxies. It posits that under such conditions, baryonic matter could exhibit properties analogous to superfluids, allowing it to flow without viscosity and exert gravitational influences consistent with dark matter observations.

Key to the BaumgarteShapiro concept is the idea that this condensed baryonic state would not interact electromagnetically, thus remaining invisible to telescopes. Furthermore, it would interact only weakly through gravity, explaining its elusive nature. While the theory offers an alternative perspective to particle-based dark matter, it faces significant challenges in explaining various cosmological observations, such as the structure formation of the universe and the abundance of light elements. Current research in astrophysics continues to investigate both particle and non-particle dark matter candidates, with the BaumgarteShapiro model representing one of the theoretical avenues explored.