Quantum Fields, Gravity, and the evidence for non-baryonic particles
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One of the oldest projects in science involves constructing a fundamental ontology. The scientist aims to create a comprehensive model of the world, in which no phenomena is left unexplained. New models are deemed successful if they continue to increase the domain of our understanding. Physics is once again reaching a point in which our current theories require re-articulation. A certain class of astronomical observations continue to elude explanation, namely, that strong gravitational potentials exist in regions devoid of visible matter. This paper will be focused on introducing the primary evidence that supports these claims. However, I want to begin by briefly outlining the explanatory power of our current theories.
Particles and Fields
Quantum Field Theories are some of the most successful models of the universe to date. As the name suggests, the universe is described as a dynamical system of quantum fields. Each of these fields corresponds to a fundamental particle from the Standard Model. When a particle is localized, it is seen as an excited vibrational mode of its underlying field. The first quantum field theory pertained to the electromagnetic force, known as QED. From there, coherent field theories were developed for the other particles in the Standard Model. The chart below is one of the crowning achievements of physics, it lists seventeen classes of particles that account for almost every known interaction in the universe.
One of the key parameters used to distinguish these classes of particles is intrinsic angular momentum, called spin. Particles with half-integer spin are known as fermions, while integer spin valued particles are bosons. The strong, weak and electromagnetic force are all described as being interactions between fermions, mediated by the exchange of gauge bosons. Gravity has not yet been unified with this schematization, and is best described by the field equations of Einstein’s General Relativity…
