Under the gravitational influence of dark matter, small fluctuations in the matter density field evolve. Particularly dense regions collapse into nonlinear, self-gravitating systems called dark matter...Under the gravitational influence of dark matter, small fluctuations in the matter density field evolve. Particularly dense regions collapse into nonlinear, self-gravitating systems called dark matter halos, which form the nodes of the web of galaxies that cosmologists observe today.
After recombination, baryons fall into the gravitational potential wells provided by dark matter halos, beginning the process of star and galaxy formation. This Chapter explores how galaxies form and ...After recombination, baryons fall into the gravitational potential wells provided by dark matter halos, beginning the process of star and galaxy formation. This Chapter explores how galaxies form and evolve, and how they relate to dark matter halos.
