Dark Matter in the Universe
The Public Science Lectures September 28, 2010 Belmont Public Library, Belmont MA
Peter Fisher, Ph.D., Professor of Physics and Division Head, Particle & Nuclear Experimental Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
What is dark matter? Where is it? Do we need it? How much is there? Professor Peter Fisher explains the problem of dark matter, the mysterious, invisible stuff that holds galaxies together. He also describes the current big hunt for dark matter and the unique project he and his collaborators have designed to identify it.
In addition to his positions in the MIT Department of Physics and the Particle and Nuclear Experimental Physics Division, Professor Fisher also holds appointments in MIT’s Laboratory for Nuclear Science and the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. His primary physics research areas dark matter and high-energy interactions. He has worked extensively on neutrinos and on the nature of cosmic rays. Dr. Fisher is also involved in the development of new particle detectors. At the CERN Large Hadron Collider he works on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) experiment, which is designed to make high-precision measurements of cosmic rays.
Scientific American article: Dr. Fisher's Dark Matter lecture at NYC Museum of Natural History 4/10/11 draws sellout crowd
New York Times article about the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer A Costly Quest for the Dark Heart of the Cosmos - NYTimes.com
Prof. Fisher on Nova Science Now: Q/A on the Large Hadron Collider at CERN
The Hunt for Dark Matter about Dr. Fisher and the MIT dark matter project (PhysOrg.com 9/17/09)
Nova Now program on CERN (lots of info, including Dr. Fisher)