scholarly journals Probing the nature of dark matter with accreted globular cluster streams

2020 ◽  
Vol 501 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khyati Malhan ◽  
Monica Valluri ◽  
Katherine Freese
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Density Profiles ◽  
Parallel Structures ◽  
Stellar Streams ◽  
Future Data ◽  
Low Mass

ABSTRACT The steepness of the central density profiles of dark matter (DM) in low-mass galaxy haloes (e.g. dwarf galaxies) is a powerful probe of the nature of DM. We propose a novel scheme to probe the inner profiles of galaxy subhaloes using stellar streams. We show that the present-day morphological and dynamical properties of accreted globular cluster (GC) streams – those produced from tidal stripping of GCs that initially evolved within satellite galaxies and later merged with the Milky Way (MW) – are sensitive to the central DM density profile and mass of their parent satellites. GCs that accrete within cuspy cold dark matter (CDM) subhaloes produce streams that are physically wider and dynamically hotter than streams that accrete inside cored subhaloes. A first comparison of MW streams ‘GD-1’ and ‘Jhelum’ (likely of accreted GC origin) with our simulations indicates a preference for cored subhaloes. If these results hold up in future data, the implication is that either the DM cusps were erased by baryonic feedback, or their subhaloes naturally possessed cored density profiles implying particle physics models beyond CDM. Moreover, accreted GC streams are highly structured and exhibit complex morphological features (e.g. parallel structures and ‘spurs’). This implies that the accretion scenario can naturally explain the recently observed peculiarities in some of the MW streams. We also propose a novel mechanism for forming ‘gaps’ in stellar streams when the remnant of the parent subhalo (which hosted the GC) later passes through the GC stream. This encounter can last a longer time (and have more of an impact) than the random encounters with DM subhaloes previously considered, because the GC stream and its parent subhalo are on similar orbits with small relative velocities. Current and future surveys of the MW halo will uncover numerous faint stellar streams and provide the data needed to substantiate our preliminary tests with this new probe of DM.

scholarly journals On N-body simulations of globular cluster streams

2021 ◽  
Vol 504 (1) ◽  
pp. 648-653
Author(s):  
Nilanjan Banik ◽  
Jo Bovy
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Numerical Density ◽  
Stellar Streams ◽  
Small Scales ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Stream Density ◽  
Tidal Streams

ABSTRACT Stellar tidal streams are sensitive tracers of the properties of the gravitational potential in which they orbit and detailed observations of their density structure can be used to place stringent constraints on fluctuations in the potential caused by, e.g. the expected populations of dark matter subhaloes in the standard cold dark matter (CDM) paradigm. Simulations of the evolution of stellar streams in live N-body haloes without low-mass dark matter subhaloes, however, indicate that streams exhibit significant perturbations on small scales even in the absence of substructure. Here, we demonstrate, using high-resolution N-body simulations combined with sophisticated semi-analytical and simple analytical models, that the mass resolutions of 104–$10^5\, \rm {M}_{\odot }$ commonly used to perform such simulations cause spurious stream density variations with a similar magnitude on large scales as those expected from a CDM-like subhalo population and an order of magnitude larger on small, yet observable, scales. We estimate that mass resolutions of ${\approx}100\, \rm {M}_{\odot }$ (${\approx}1\, \rm {M}_{\odot }$) are necessary for spurious, numerical density variations to be well below the CDM subhalo expectation on large (small) scales. That streams are sensitive to a simulation’s particle mass down to such small masses indicates that streams are sensitive to dark matter clustering down to these low masses if a significant fraction of the dark matter is clustered or concentrated in this way, for example, in MACHO models with masses of 10–$100\, \rm {M}_{\odot }$.

scholarly journals Dwarf Galaxies as Cosmological Probes

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S344) ◽  
pp. 455-463
Author(s):  
Julio F. Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Dark Matter Halos ◽  
Too Big To Fail ◽  
Sharp Minimum ◽  
Luminous Galaxies ◽  
Small Scales ◽  
Low Mass

AbstractThe Lambda Cold Dark Matter (LCDM) paradigm makes specific predictions for the abundance, structure, substructure and clustering of dark matter halos, the sites of galaxy formation. These predictions can be directly tested, in the low-mass halo regime, by dark matter-dominated dwarf galaxies. A number of potential challenges to LCDM have been identified when confronting the expected properties of dwarfs with observation. I review our understanding of a few of these issues, including the “missing satellites” and the “too-big-to-fail” problems, and argue that neither poses an insurmountable challenge to LCDM. Solving these problems requires that most dwarf galaxies inhabit halos of similar mass, and that there is a relatively sharp minimum halo mass threshold to form luminous galaxies. These predictions are eminently falsifiable. In particular, LCDM predicts a large number of “dark” low-mass halos, some of which should have retained enough primordial gas to be detectable in deep 21 cm or Hα surveys. Detecting this predicted population of “mini-halos” would be a major discovery and a resounding success for LCDM on small scales.

scholarly journals To β or not to β: can higher order Jeans analysis break the mass–anisotropy degeneracy in simulated dwarfs?

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-163
Author(s):  
A Genina ◽  
J I Read ◽  
C S Frenk ◽  
S Cole ◽  
A Benítez-Llambay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Density Profiles ◽  
Velocity Anisotropy ◽  
Density Distributions ◽  
Mass Profiles

ABSTRACT We test a non-parametric higher order Jeans analysis method, GravSphere, on 32 simulated dwarf galaxies comparable to classical Local Group dwarfs like Fornax. The galaxies are selected from A Project Of Simulating The Local Environment (APOSTLE) suite of cosmological hydrodynamics simulations with cold dark matter (CDM) and self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) models, allowing us to investigate cusps and cores in density distributions. We find that, for CDM dwarfs, the recovered enclosed mass profiles have a bias of no more than 10 per cent, with a 50 per cent scatter in the inner regions and a 20 per cent scatter near the half-light radius, consistent with standard mass estimators. The density profiles are also recovered with a bias of no more than 10 per cent and a scatter of 30 per cent in the inner regions. For SIDM dwarfs, the mass and density profiles are recovered within our 95 per cent confidence intervals but are biased towards cuspy dark matter distributions. This is mainly due to a lack of sufficient constraints from the data. We explore the sources of scatter in the accuracy of the recovered profiles and suggest a χ2 statistic to separate successful models from biased ones. Finally, we show that the uncertainties on the mass profiles obtained with GravSphere are smaller than those for comparable Jeans methods and that they can be further improved if stronger priors, motivated by cosmological simulations, are placed on the velocity anisotropy. We conclude that GravSphere is a promising Jeans-based approach for modelling dark matter distributions in dwarf galaxies.

scholarly journals The Cusp–Core Problem in Gas-Poor Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies

Galaxies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Pierre Boldrini
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Density Profiles ◽  
True Nature ◽  
Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies ◽  
Stellar Feedback ◽  
Second Category ◽  
Core Problem

This review deals with the inconsistency of inner dark matter density profiles in dwarf galaxies, known as the cusp–core problem. In particular, we aim to focus on gas-poor dwarf galaxies. One of the most promising solutions to this cold dark matter small-scale issue is the stellar feedback, but it seems to be only designed for gas-rich dwarfs. However, in the regime of classical dwarfs, this core mechanism becomes negligible. Therefore, it is required to find solutions without invoking these baryonic processes as dark matter cores tend to persist even for these dwarfs, which are rather dark-matter-dominated. Here, we have presented two categories of solutions. One consists of creating dark matter cores from cusps within cold dark matter by altering the dark matter potential via perturbers. The second category gathers solutions that depict the natural emergence of dark matter cores in alternative theories. Given the wide variety of solutions, it becomes necessary to identify which mechanism dominates in the central region of galaxies by finding observational signatures left by them in order to highlight the true nature of dark matter.

scholarly journals Formation of dwarf galaxies and small-scale problems of CDM

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S235) ◽  
pp. 385-388
Author(s):  
Oleg Y. Gnedin
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Dark Matter Halos ◽  
Density Profiles ◽  
Gas Cooling ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
The Universe

AbstractThe concordance cosmological model based on cold dark matter makes definitive predictions for the growth of galaxies in the Universe, which are being actively studied using numerical simulations. These predictions appear to contradict the observations of dwarf galaxies. Dwarf dark matter halos are more numerous and have steeper central density profiles than the observed galaxies. The first of these small-scale problems, the “missing satellites problem”, can be resolved by accounting for the low efficiency of gas cooling and star formation in dwarf halos. A newly-discovered class of HyperVelocity Stars will soon allow us to test another generic prediction of CDM models, the triaxial shapes of dark matter halos. Measuring the proper motions of HVS will probe the gravitational potential out to 100 kpc and will constrain the axis ratios and the orientation of the Galactic halo.

scholarly journals The Faint Globular Cluster in the Dwarf Galaxy Andromeda I

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson Caldwell ◽  
Jay Strader ◽  
David J. Sand ◽  
Beth Willman ◽  
Anil C. Seth
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Local Group ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Dark Matter Halos ◽  
History Of ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Growing Population

AbstractObservations of globular clusters in dwarf galaxies can be used to study a variety of topics, including the structure of dark matter halos and the history of vigorous star formation in low-mass galaxies. We report on the properties of the faint globular cluster (MV ~ −3.4) in the M31 dwarf galaxy Andromeda I. This object adds to the growing population of low-luminosity Local Group galaxies that host single globular clusters.

scholarly journals Distant Compact Narrow Emission Line Galaxies as Progenitors of Today’s Spheroidal Galaxies

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-146
Author(s):  
David C. Koo ◽  
Rafael Guzmán
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Faint Galaxy ◽  
Blue Galaxies ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Emission Line Galaxies ◽  
Narrow Emission

Dwarf galaxies at high redshifts are important to study for a variety of reasons. By dwarf, we mean galaxies with low-mass, though galaxies with low-luminosities or small sizes are also commonly referred to as dwarfs. Several groups have suggested that such galaxies may be major contributors to faint blue galaxies, whose nature remains unclear. Dwarfs are viable candidates for faint blue galaxies if many undergo strong bursts of star-formation at redshifts z ~ 1 (Babul and Ferguson 1996) or even lower redshifts z ~ 0.3 (Cowie, Songaila, and Hu 1991; Broadhurst et al. 1988) and fade or disappear by today; if they have a much steeper luminosity function (Driver et al. 1994) than generally adopted in faint galaxy models; or if they represent small pre-merger fragments of larger galaxies today (Guiderdoni and Rocca-Volmerange 1990; Broadhurst, Ellis, and Glazebrook 1992), as might be expected in standard cold dark matter models with hierarchical galaxy formation.

scholarly journals Cusp-to-core transition in low-mass dwarf galaxies induced by dynamical heating of cold dark matter by primordial black holes

2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (4) ◽  
pp. 5218-5225
Author(s):  
Pierre Boldrini ◽  
Yohei Miki ◽  
Alexander Y Wagner ◽  
Roya Mohayaee ◽  
Joseph Silk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Dark Matter ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Initial Density ◽  
Primordial Black Holes ◽  
Low Mass

ABSTRACT We performed a series of high-resolution N-body simulations to examine whether dark matter candidates in the form of primordial black holes (PBHs) can solve the cusp–core problem in low-mass dwarf galaxies. If some fraction of the dark matter in low-mass dwarf galaxies consists of PBHs and the rest is cold dark matter, dynamical heating of the cold dark matter by the PBHs induces a cusp-to-core transition in the total dark matter profile. The mechanism works for PBHs in the 25–100 M⊙ mass window, consistent with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detections, but requires a lower limit on the PBH mass fraction of 1 ${{\rm per\ cent}}$ of the total dwarf galaxy dark matter content. The cusp-to-core transition time-scale is between 1 and 8 Gyr. This time-scale is also a constant multiple of the relaxation time between cold dark matter particles and PBHs, which depends on the mass, the mass fraction, and the scale radius of the initial density profile of PBHs. We conclude that dark matter cores occur naturally in haloes composed of cold dark matter and PBHs, without the need to invoke baryonic processes.

scholarly journals The Structure of Dark Matter Halos in Dwarf Galaxies

1996 ◽  
Vol 171 ◽  
pp. 175-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Burkert
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Density Distribution ◽  
Density Profile ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Dark Matter Halos ◽  
Density Structure ◽  
Rotation Curves ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Inner Parts

Some dwarf galaxies have HI rotation curves that are completely dominated by a surrounding dark matter (DM) halo (e.g. Carignan & Freeman 1988). These objects represent ideal candidates for an investigation of the density structure of low-mass DM halos as the uncertainties resulting from the subtraction of the visible component are small, even in the innermost regions. Flores & Primack (1994) and Moore (1994) compared the observed DM rotation curves with the profiles, predicted from cosmological cold dark matter (CDM) calculations. They found an interesting discrepancy: whereas the calculations lead to a DM density distribution which diverges as ρ ∼ r−1 in the inner parts, the observed rotation curves indicate shallow DM cores which can be described by an isothermal density profile with finite central density.

scholarly journals NIHAO – XXV. Convergence in the cusp-core transformation of cold dark matter haloes at high star formation thresholds

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (2) ◽  
pp. 2648-2661
Author(s):  
Aaron A Dutton ◽  
Tobias Buck ◽  
Andrea V Macciò ◽  
Keri L Dixon ◽  
Marvin Blank ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Star Formation ◽  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Good Description ◽  
Good Match ◽  
Virial Mass ◽  
Density Threshold

ABSTRACT We use cosmological hydrodynamical galaxy formation simulations from the NIHAO project to investigate the response of cold dark matter (CDM) haloes to baryonic processes. Previous work has shown that the halo response is primarily a function of the ratio between galaxy stellar mass and total virial mass, and the density threshold above which gas is eligible to form stars, n[cm−3]. At low n all simulations in the literature agree that dwarf galaxy haloes are cuspy, but at high n ≳ 100 there is no consensus. We trace halo contraction in dwarf galaxies with n ≳ 100 reported in some previous simulations to insufficient spatial resolution. Provided the adopted star formation threshold is appropriate for the resolution of the simulation, we show that the halo response is remarkably stable for n ≳ 5, up to the highest star formation threshold that we test, n = 500. This free parameter can be calibrated using the observed clustering of young stars. Simulations with low thresholds n ≤ 1 predict clustering that is too weak, while simulations with high star formation thresholds n ≳ 5, are consistent with the observed clustering. Finally, we test the CDM predictions against the circular velocities of nearby dwarf galaxies. Low thresholds predict velocities that are too high, while simulations with n ∼ 10 provide a good match to the observations. We thus conclude that the CDM model provides a good description of the structure of galaxies on kpc scales provided the effects of baryons are properly captured.

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