[Previous] | [Session 117] | [Next]
R B Metcalf (University of California at Berkeley, Physics Dep.)
High redshift type Ia supernovae (SNe) offer a unique probe of the distribution and composition of dark matter through the effects of gravitational lensing. The distribution of magnifications is related to properties of the dark matter, such as its fundamental constituents and their number density and clustering properties. Using SN data a test can be made to determine whether dark matter is primarily composed of massive compact objects or microscopic particles. If dark matter is composed of microscopic particles additional information can be gained on its clustering properties at galaxy halo scales. Simulations of the lensing and observational noise show that 50-100 SNe at z ~1 should be enough to distinguish between microscopic and macroscopic dark matter candidates and, if microscopic, constrain the mass and size of halos.