English

Could fresh lava be (warm) dark matter?

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics 2022-04-01 v1 High Energy Physics - Phenomenology

Abstract

Dark matter models can be classified according to their impact on the properties of galaxies, including cold dark matter (CDM), warm dark matter (WDM), self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) and fuzzy dark matter (FDM). In celebration of April Fool's Day, and also of the 1-year anniversary of the start of the 2022 volcanic eruption at Fagradalsfjall here in Iceland, we explore fresh lava as a candidate for WDM specifically. We verify first hand that lava is indeed warm (exhibits free-streaming and retains temperature for several months after the eruption ends, is 1000K, sets fire to grass, can feel one's eyebrows singe at a distance of 4m) and dark once sufficiently decoupled from its source of production.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2203.16563,
  title  = {Could fresh lava be (warm) dark matter?},
  author = {Mark R. Lovell},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2203.16563},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

April Fool's contribution envisaging fresh lava as warm dark matter. Three pages, three figures. Email: lovell@hi.is

R2 v1 2026-06-24T10:32:25.120Z