Research summary
Of all of the constituents of the universe, dark matter is one of the most mysterious. Five times more abundant than the ordinary matter of atoms and everyday life, and crucial in keeping galaxies from flying apart, little is known about its microscopic properties. Dr. Jo Bovy’s research uses the dynamics of stars in the Milky Way to map its dark matter in unprecedented detail. In particular, by searching for the imprints of the smallest concentrations of dark matter on stellar trajectories, his research will provide important new clues to the physical nature of dark matter.