Are symmetric tidal streams possible with long-range dark-matter forces?

Abstract

The unique dynamics of the tidal disruption of satellite galaxies is an extremely sensitive probe of long-range interactions between dark-matter particles. Dark-matter forces that are several percent the strength of gravity will lead to order unity changes in the ratio of the number of stars in the leading and trailing tidal streams of a satellite galaxy. The approximate symmetry of the stellar tidal streams of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy would thus exclude attractive dark-matter forces greater than 10% the strength of gravity which would entirely eliminate the leading stream. However, recent simulations suggest that dark-matter forces 100% the strength of gravity could completely strip the stellar component of Sagittarius of its dark matter, allowing for the subsequent development of symmetric tidal streams. Here we argue that these simulations use inconsistent initial conditions corresponding to separate pure stellar and pure dark-matter satellites moving independently in the host galaxy's halo, rather than a single disrupting composite satellite as had been intended. A new simulation with different initial conditions, in particular a much more massive satellite galaxy, might demonstrate a scenario in which symmetric tidal streams develop in the presence of large dark-matter forces. This scenario must satisfy several highly restrictive criteria described in this paper.