Does Dark Matter Solve the Hubble Tension Puzzle?

摘要: The Hubble constant H0  defines the rate of expansion of the Universe. Currently there are three conflicting values of the Hubble constant. The Planck team (Ade et al 2014), the Carnegie-Chicago team (Freedman  et al 2019), and the SHoES team (Riess et al 2016) have all produced values that disagree beyond their errors. The SHoES team has shown that the Hubble constant is increasing in recent times (Riess et al 1998) reflecting an increase or acceleration in the rate of expansion of the Universe. Baruch (2024a) “Are Stellar Distance Measurements Opening a Window into New Physics?”  has reviewed recent data of the SHoES team (Riess et al 2021) where Hubble telescope photometric data for two groups of Cepheids at different distances was  linked to Gaia parallax measurements of the same stars. It is shown “beyond reasonable doubt” how for this unique set of precise data the zero-point correction can be eliminated and a wavelength independent (colourless) extinction of light across the Milky Way galaxy revealed. This current paper seeks out the cause of this extinction and shows that the data of Freedman et al 2019 neatly fits a wavelength independent extinction when the cause of the extinction is attributed to dark matter. The extinction coefficients are derived. All the Riess and the Freedman values of the Hubble constant are shown to agree with the Planck Satellite (Ade et al 2014) value within the error bars when the differences are attributed to dark matter extinction. The recent time acceleration in the expansion of the Universe also is shown to be a function of intergalactic dark matter extinction. The key properties required of the dark matter are defined.