>On Tue, 13 Nov 2001 "Lydia" wrote:
> What are some other ways that we can detect dark matter besides gravitational
>lensing? What other studies have attempted to defind dark matter? Are
>there any new current theories of ways we can detect more dark matter?

Our project pursues what is called as "direct detection" of dark matter.
A leading theory suggests that dark matter consists of particles which
are clustered around the centers of galaxies and spread throughout
each galaxy.  So, some of these particles should be passing through the
earth and you and me.  We have designed detectors to detect the tiny
energy from a collision between a galactic dark matter particle and
an atom in the body of our detectors.  Several other groups around the
world are pursuing similar endeavors.

The theoretical landscape is vast, and there are still many ideas
floating around about how to detect dark matter and what it is.
Here is another idea:  Dark matter particles in our galaxy should
cluster also around stars like our sun -- they get trapped by the
gravity.  So, there should be a higher density of dark matter particles
in the sun than in the neighboring space around us.  Dark matter particles
may decay or annihilate with one another and this will give out
a signature progeny particle or photon of light.  Perhaps we can
detect those signatures from the decay of DM trapped in our sun?...

Hope this helps!

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name://Armel.Funkhouser/Scott
work://Berkeley.Cosmology.Group/CDMSII
http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/~armel
phon://510.643/3950