Abstract
Dark matter substructure has the potential to discriminate between broad classes of dark matter models. With this in mind, we construct novel solutions to the equations of motion governing condensate dark matter candidates, namely axion Bose-Einstein condensates and superfluids. These solutions are highly compressed along one axis and thus have a disk-like geometry. We discuss linear stability of these solutions, consider the astrophysical implications as a large-scale dark disk or as small scale substructure, and find a characteristic signal in strong gravitational lensing. This adds to the growing body of work that indicates that the morphology of dark matter substructure is a powerful probe of the nature of dark matter.
Highlights
Strong lensing observations, in agreement with expectations from hierarchical stucture formation, have revealed the existence of dark matter substructure [1], that is, gravitationally bound clumps distinct from the halo
We discuss linear stability of these solutions, consider the astrophysical implications as a large-scale dark disk or as small scale substructure, and find a characteristic signal in strong gravitational lensing. This adds to the growing body of work that indicates that the morphology of dark matter substructure is a powerful probe of the nature of dark matter
We have argued that disk-like solutions exist to the equations of motion describing a gravitating Bose-Einstein condensate, as emerge in models of dark matter involving ultra-light scalars and superfluids
Summary
In agreement with expectations from hierarchical stucture formation, have revealed the existence of dark matter substructure [1], that is, gravitationally bound clumps distinct from the halo. In the non-relativistic limit, are described by the same set of equations, exact solutions to which should exist as dark matter substructure. The morphology of this substructure, insofar as it differs from that of particle dark matter, in principle provides a signature of condensate dark matter scenarios. It is a notoriously difficult task to find bound state solutions without spherical symmetry, see e.g. footnote 21 of [9] With this in mind, in this letter we study a novel form of substructure that can exist in condensate models. This investigation reveals new solutions to old equations, and adds qualitatively new results to the existing mathematical literature
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