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Published online 5 March 2008 | Nature 452, 6-7 (2008) | doi:10.1038/452006b

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Bright hopes pervade dark matter

Physicists unperturbed as Soudain mine detector draws a blank.

Geoff Brumfiel

Physicists have again returned empty-handed from a search for the 'dark matter' that is thought to fill the cosmos. But the latest null result hasn't dimmed their enthusiasm — or their plans for a new generation of detectors.

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  • One wonders about Dark Matter detection methodologies, Science 319(5865) 933 (2008) "Spin-Dependent WIMP Limits from a Bubble Chamber" "...the extreme sensitivity to this mode of interaction afforded by the large mass fraction of fluorine" using CF3I. Is CF3I clever? <P> Mass fraction of fluorine/g fluid is 2.8 times larger with CF3CF2CF3. Mass of fluorine/cm^3 is 1.6 times larger with CF3CF2CF3. Interpretation is simpler without the iodine. Similar physical constants. Hello? <P> Bp, C MW wt-% F Fluid -22.5 195.91 29.09 CF3I -36.6 188.02 80.84 CF3CF2CF3 <P> @bp d, g/cm^3 Tc, C Pc, psi Fluid 2.36 123.3 573 CF3I 1.35 71.9 339 CF3CF2CF3 </PRE>

    • 05 Mar, 2008
    • Posted by: "Uncle Al" Schwartz