<p>This answer comes with a small warning.  Actual dark matter has not been discovered, so this is theoretical, but a very well understood theory.</p>

<p>All matter, dark or light, affects the curvature of spacetime in the same way. The formula for the curvature is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_field_equations" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Einstein Field Equation.</a> The curvature is defined by the value of a 4x4 matrix, called the "stress energy tensor". Which describes the density of energy and momentum in space-time. The formula doesn't care if the energy and momentum comes from regular matter or dark matter.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T14:54:29.190Z
I can't express my happiness which I got from your answer. If your answer is correct than it will be a good for me. Thanks for your answer sir.
Adarsh Kumar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T14:51:15.693Z
2018-07-27T14:51:15.693Z
James K
<p>Yes, the same <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_lens#Explanation_in_terms_of_space%E2%80%93time_curvature" rel="nofollow noreferrer">equation</a> as is used for other matter.</p>
<p>Marc Postman, Ray Villard and Donna Weaver of the <a href="http://www.stsci.edu/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Space Telescope Science Institute</a> posted the results of a <a href="http://hubblesite.org/images/news/44-clash" rel="nofollow noreferrer">CLASH study</a>: &quot;<a href="http://hubblesite.org/image/2889/news_release/2011-25" rel="nofollow noreferrer">News Release 2011-25</a>&quot;:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QNdOl.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QNdOl.jpg" alt="Galaxy Cluster MACS 1206" /></a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;This image of galaxy cluster <a href="https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&amp;nv=1&amp;rurl=translate.google.com&amp;sl=auto&amp;sp=nmt4&amp;tl=en&amp;u=https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/MACS_J1206.2-0847&amp;xid=25657,15700022,15700122,15700124,15700149,15700168,15700186,15700191,15700201,15700208&amp;usg=ALkJrhhQO6EpahOSD2p3iLaT6i-6Lu6QcA" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MACS J1206.2-0847</a> (or MACS 1206 for short) is part of a broad survey with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.</p>
<p>The distorted shapes in the cluster are distant galaxies from which the light is bent by the gravitational pull of an invisible material called dark matter within the cluster of galaxies. This cluster is an early target in a survey that will allow astronomers to construct the most detailed dark matter maps of more galaxy clusters than ever before.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On the NASA website: &quot;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/a-clash-of-clusters-provides-new-clue-to-dark-matter" rel="nofollow noreferrer">A Clash of Clusters Provides New Clue to Dark Matter</a>&quot;:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7lFF0.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7lFF0.jpg" alt="Formations of Dark Matter" /></a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;... this composite image, made using data from the Hubble Space Telescope Chandra X-Ray Observatory, researchers have discovered clues to increase our knowledge of dark matter. This image is a powerful collision of clusters. These clusters show formations of dark matter, where it separated from the ordinary matter. The different color disparities, along with the interesting evidence for dark matter ...&quot;.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Another article with the same photo: &quot;<a href="https://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic0818/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">heic0818 — Science Release -- Clash of clusters provides new dark matter clue</a>&quot;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;New Hubble and Chandra observations of the cluster known as MACSJ0025.4-1222 indicate that a titanic collision has separated dark from ordinary matter. This provides independent confirmation of a similar effect detected previously in a target dubbed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_Cluster" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bullet Cluster</a>, showing that the Bullet Cluster is not an anomalous case.&quot;.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Wikipedia webpage on CLASH - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_Lensing_and_Supernova_survey_with_Hubble" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cluster Lensing and Supernova survey with Hubble</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T18:32:43.807Z
2018-07-27T18:32:43.807Z
2020-06-17T09:47:40.653Z
Rob
<p>Does Dark Matter affect Space Time Curvature? If so, then what is the formula to calculate space time curvature due to dark matter?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T13:53:31.353Z
Do you mean "Does dark matter _cause_ space time curvature"? If so, the answer is yes, just like any other form of matter/energy, given by [Einstein's field equations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_field_equations). But dark matter cannot be said to _have_ curvature.
pela
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T14:11:11.310Z
So how dark matter affect the space-time fabrics??
Adarsh Kumar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T14:27:59.073Z
Just the same way as regular matter
Steve Linton
<space-time><general-relativity><dark-matter>
Dark Matter Curvature
Adarsh Kumar
# Dark Matter Curvature

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-27)

Does Dark Matter affect Space Time Curvature? If so, then what is the formula to calculate space time curvature due to dark matter?

**Tags:** space-time, general-relativity, dark-matter

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you mean "Does dark matter _cause_ space time curvature"? If so, the answer is yes, just like any other form of matter/energy, given by [Einstein's field equations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_field_equations). But dark matter cannot be said to _have_ curvature.  
> **username_0**: So how dark matter affect the space-time fabrics??  
> **username_2**: Just the same way as regular matter  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-07-27. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

This answer comes with a small warning. Actual dark matter has not been discovered, so this is theoretical, but a very well understood theory.

All matter, dark or light, affects the curvature of spacetime in the same way. The formula for the curvature is the [Einstein Field Equation.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_field_equations) The curvature is defined by the value of a 4x4 matrix, called the "stress energy tensor". Which describes the density of energy and momentum in space-time. The formula doesn't care if the energy and momentum comes from regular matter or dark matter.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I can't express my happiness which I got from your answer. If your answer is correct than it will be a good for me. Thanks for your answer sir.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-07-27. Score: 3

Yes, the same [equation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_lens#Explanation_in_terms_of_space%E2%80%93time_curvature) as is used for other matter.

Marc Postman, Ray Villard and Donna Weaver of the [Space Telescope Science Institute](http://www.stsci.edu/) posted the results of a [CLASH study](http://hubblesite.org/images/news/44-clash): "[News Release 2011-25](http://hubblesite.org/image/2889/news_release/2011-25)":

[![Galaxy Cluster MACS 1206](https://i.sstatic.net/QNdOl.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/QNdOl.jpg)

> "This image of galaxy cluster [MACS J1206.2-0847](https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&nv=1&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/MACS_J1206.2-0847&xid=25657,15700022,15700122,15700124,15700149,15700168,15700186,15700191,15700201,15700208&usg=ALkJrhhQO6EpahOSD2p3iLaT6i-6Lu6QcA) (or MACS 1206 for short) is part of a broad survey with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
>
> The distorted shapes in the cluster are distant galaxies from which the light is bent by the gravitational pull of an invisible material called dark matter within the cluster of galaxies. This cluster is an early target in a survey that will allow astronomers to construct the most detailed dark matter maps of more galaxy clusters than ever before.

On the NASA website: "[A Clash of Clusters Provides New Clue to Dark Matter](https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/a-clash-of-clusters-provides-new-clue-to-dark-matter)":

[![Formations of Dark Matter](https://i.sstatic.net/7lFF0.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/7lFF0.jpg)

> "... this composite image, made using data from the Hubble Space Telescope Chandra X-Ray Observatory, researchers have discovered clues to increase our knowledge of dark matter. This image is a powerful collision of clusters. These clusters show formations of dark matter, where it separated from the ordinary matter. The different color disparities, along with the interesting evidence for dark matter ...".

Another article with the same photo: "[heic0818 — Science Release -- Clash of clusters provides new dark matter clue](https://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic0818/)":

> "New Hubble and Chandra observations of the cluster known as MACSJ0025.4-1222 indicate that a titanic collision has separated dark from ordinary matter. This provides independent confirmation of a similar effect detected previously in a target dubbed the [Bullet Cluster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_Cluster), showing that the Bullet Cluster is not an anomalous case.".

Wikipedia webpage on CLASH - [Cluster Lensing and Supernova survey with Hubble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_Lensing_and_Supernova_survey_with_Hubble).


---

