Halo Density Profiles Research Articles

SMILE: Discriminating milli-lens systems in a VLBI pilot project

Dark matter (DM) remains poorly probed on critical sub-galactic scales, where predictions from different models diverge in terms of abundance and density profiles of halos. Gravitational lens systems on milli-arcsecond scales (milli-lenses) are expected for a population of dense DM halos (free-floating or sub-halos) and free-floating supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the mass range of $10^6$ to $10^9,M_⊙$ that might partly be comprised of primordial black holes (PBHs). In this paper, we aim to look for possible milli-lens systems via a systematic search in a large sample of radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN) observed with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). We present the observational strategy to discriminate milli-lens systems from contaminant objects mimicking a milli-lens morphology. In a pilot project, we have investigated VLBI images from 13,828 sources from the Astrogeo VLBI image database and reduced the number of lens candidates to 40 in a first step. We present here the images and analysis of new sensitive follow-up observations with the European VLBI network at 5 and 22,GHz and streamline our analysis to reject milli-lens candidates. By using constraints such as the surface brightness ratio, conservation of spectral shape, stability of flux ratios over time, and changes in morphology at higher frequencies, we can confidently discriminate between milli-lenses and contaminant objects that mimick them. Using the above constraints, we ruled out 31 of our initial 40 candidates of milli-lens systems, demonstrating the power of our approach. In addition, we found many new candidate compact symmetric objects (CSOs), which are thought to be primarily short-lived jetted radio sources. Additional observations of the remaining candidates will be necessary to confirm or reject their nature as milli-lenses or CSOs. This study serves as a pathfinder for the final sample used for the Search for MIlli-LEnses (SMILE) project, which will allow DM models to be constrained by comparing the results to theoretical predictions. This SMILE sample will consist of ∼5,000 sources based on the VLA CLASS survey and will include many observations obtained for this project specifically.

Hubble expansion signature on simulated halo density profiles. A path to observing the turnaround radius

Density profiles are important tools in galaxy cluster research, offering insights into clusters dynamical states and their relationship with the broader Universe. While these profiles provide valuable information about the matter content of the Universe, their utility in understanding its dark energy component has remained limited due to a lack of tools allowing us to study the transition from cluster portions that are relaxed and infalling, to those that are merging with the Hubble flow. In this work we investigate signatures of this transition in stacked density profiles of simulated cluster-sized halos at different redshifts. To highlight the Hubble flow around clusters, we used their turnaround radius to normalize stacked simulated density profiles and calculate their logarithmic slope. Then, we complement our analysis by modeling the outer portions of these profiles assuming Gaussian early Universe statistics and the spherical collapse model (SCM) without shell-crossing. We find the logarithmic slope of median cluster density profiles beyond the turnaround radius - where the Hubble flow dominates - to be Universal and well described by our model. Importantly, we find the slope of the profiles to diverge from the SCM prediction from within the turnaround radius where the actual profiles exhibit caustics which give rise to the splashback feature. We suggest utilizing this divergence from the spherical collapse model as a method to identify the turnaround radius in stacked cluster density profiles, offering a new perspective on understanding cluster dynamics and their cosmological implications.

A dynamics-based density profile for dark haloes – III. Parameter space

Abstract In the previous paper of this series, we proposed a new function to fit halo density profiles out to large radii. This truncated Einasto profile models the inner, orbiting matter as ρorb∝exp [ − 2/α (r/rs)α − 1/β (r/rt)β] and the outer, infalling term as a power-law overdensity. In this paper, we analyse the resulting parameter space of scale radius rs, truncation radius rt, steepening α, truncation sharpness β, infalling normalisation δ1, and infalling slope s. We show that these parameters are non-degenerate in averaged profiles, and that fits to the total profiles generally recover the underlying properties of the orbiting and infalling terms. We study the connection between profile parameters and halo properties such as mass (or peak height) and accretion rate. We find that the commonly cited dependence of α on peak height is an artefact of fitting Einasto profiles to the actual, truncated profiles. In our fits, α is independent of mass but dependent on accretion rate. When fitting individual halo profiles, the parameters exhibit significant scatter but otherwise follow the same trends. We confirm that the entire profiles are sensitive to the accretion history of haloes, and that the two radial scales rs and rt particularly respond to the formation time and recent accretion rate. As a result, rt is a more accurate measure of the accretion rate than the commonly used radius where the density slope is steepest.

Gravitational lensing in more realistic dark matter halo models

In this study, we explore gravitational lensing using more realistic dark matter halo models, moving beyond the limitations of spherical-collapse approximations. Through analytical calculations employing various mass functions, we address critical factors often neglected in the standard Press–Schechter formalism, such as ellipsoidal-collapse conditions, angular momentum, dynamical friction, and the cosmological constant. Our analysis incorporates two widely recognized halo density profiles, the Navarro-Frenk-White and Einasto profiles considering both spherical and ellipsoidal-collapse scenarios. We provide detailed calculations of key gravitational lensing observables, including Einstein radii, lensing optical depths, and time delays, across a broad range of redshifts and masses using two different lensing models: the point mass and singular isothermal sphere (SIS) models. The results demonstrate that employing more realistic dark matter halo models amplifies the lensing effects compared to those derived from spherical-collapse models. Additionally, our analyses of lensing optical depths and time delays reveal distinct differences between the point mass and SIS lens models. These findings highlight the importance of using more realistic halo descriptions rather than simplified approximations to accurately model the complex structures of dark matter in gravitational lensing.

Cosmological simulations of scale-dependent primordial non-Gaussianity

We present the results of a set of cosmological N-body simulations with standard ΛCDM cosmology but characterized by a scale-dependent primordial non-Gaussianity of the local type featuring a power-law dependence of the f NL loc(k) at large scales followed by a saturation to a constant value at smaller scales where non-linear growth leads to the formation of collapsed cosmic structures. Such models are built to ensure consistency with current Cosmic Microwave Background bounds on primordial non-Gaussianity yet allowing for large effects of the non-Gaussian statistics on the properties of non-linear structure formation. We show the impact of such scale-dependent non-Gaussian scenarios on a wide range of properties of the resulting cosmic structures, such as the non-linear matter power spectrum, the halo and sub-halo mass functions, the concentration-mass relation, the halo and void density profiles, and we highlight for the first time that some of these models might mimic the effects of Warm Dark Matter for several of such observables.

The Power of High-precision Broadband Photometry: Tracing the Milky Way Density Profile with Blue Horizontal Branch Stars in the Dark Energy Survey

Blue horizontal branch stars (BHBs), excellent distant tracers for probing the Milky Way’s halo density profile, are distinguished in the g−r0 versus (i − z)0 color space from another class of stars, blue straggler stars. We develop a Bayesian mixture model to classify BHBs using high-precision photometry data from the Dark Energy Survey Data Release 2 (DES DR2). We select ∼2100 highly probable BHBs based on their griz photometry and the associated uncertainties, and we use these stars to map the stellar halo over the Galactocentric radial range 20 kpc ≲ R ≲ 70 kpc. After excluding known stellar overdensities, we find that the number density n ⋆ of BHBs can be represented by a power-law density profile n ⋆ ∝ R −α with an index of α=4.34−0.12+0.13±0.52 , consistent with existing literature values. In addition, we examine the impact of systematic errors and the spatial inhomogeneity on the fitted density profile. Our work demonstrates the effectiveness of high-precision griz photometry in selecting BHBs. The upcoming photometric survey from the Rubin Observatory, expected to reach depths 2–3 mag greater than DES during its 10 yr mission, will enable us to investigate the density profile of the Milky Way’s halo out to the virial radius, unraveling the complex processes of formation and evolution in our Galaxy.

Bayesian inference of initial conditions from non-linear cosmic structures using field-level emulators

ABSTRACT Analysing next-generation cosmological data requires balancing accurate modelling of non-linear gravitational structure formation and computational demands. We propose a solution by introducing a machine learning-based field-level emulator, within the Hamiltonian Monte Carlo-based Bayesian Origin Reconstruction from Galaxies (BORG) inference algorithm. Built on a V-net neural network architecture, the emulator enhances the predictions by first-order Lagrangian perturbation theory to be accurately aligned with full N-body simulations while significantly reducing evaluation time. We test its incorporation in BORG for sampling cosmic initial conditions using mock data based on non-linear large-scale structures from N-body simulations and Gaussian noise. The method efficiently and accurately explores the high-dimensional parameter space of initial conditions, fully extracting the cross-correlation information of the data field binned at a resolution of $1.95\,h^{-1}$ Mpc. Percent-level agreement with the ground truth in the power spectrum and bispectrum is achieved up to the Nyquist frequency $k_\mathrm{N} \approx 2.79h \,\, \mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$. Posterior resimulations – using the inferred initial conditions for N-body simulations – show that the recovery of information in the initial conditions is sufficient to accurately reproduce halo properties. In particular, we show highly accurate $M_{200\mathrm{c}}$ halo mass function and stacked density profiles of haloes in different mass bins $[0.853,16]\times 10^{14}\,{\rm M}_{\odot }\,h^{-1}$. As all available cross-correlation information is extracted, we acknowledge that limitations in recovering the initial conditions stem from the noise level and data grid resolution. This is promising as it underscores the significance of accurate non-linear modelling, indicating the potential for extracting additional information at smaller scales.

Dark matter induced baryonic feedback in galaxies

We demonstrate that nongravitational interactions between dark matter and baryonic matter can affect structural properties of galaxies. Detailed galaxy simulations and analytic estimates demonstrate that dark matter which collects inside white dwarf stars and ignites type Ia supernovae can substantially alter star formation, stellar feedback, and the halo density profile through a dark matter induced baryonic feedback process, distinct from usual supernova feedback in galaxies. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Assembly history and internal structure of cluster cold dark matter haloes

ABSTRACT We use the Phoenix simulations to study the mass assembly history and internal structures of cluster dark matter haloes ($M_{200} \gtrsim 5\times 10^{14} h^{-1}{\rm M}_\odot$). We confirm that cluster haloes grow inside-out, similar to galactic haloes. Major merger events dominate the growth of the internal region and minor mergers/diffuse accretion shape the outskirts. However, compared to galactic haloes, cluster haloes tend to have a younger and more actively evolving inner region. On average, the majority of mass ($\gtrsim 80$ per cent) in the inner region ($R\lt 0.1 r_{200}$) of Phoenix haloes is accreted after $z = 3$, while for galactic haloes, most mass in the central region has already been accreted before $z=6$. The density profiles of cluster haloes are less stable than those of galactic haloes over different radii. The enclosed mass within 50 or 150 kpc of all Phoenix haloes evolves substantially in the past ${\sim } 7$ Gyr, while galactic haloes remained stable during the same period. We suggest that the relatively younger and more active state explains the various observations of cluster haloes, especially in central regions.

No Catch-22 for fuzzy dark matter: testing substructure counts and core sizes via high-resolution cosmological simulations

ABSTRACT Fuzzy dark matter (FDM) has recently emerged as an interesting alternative model to the standard cold dark matter (CDM). In this model, dark matter consists of very light bosonic particles with wave-like behaviour on galactic scales. Using the N-body code ax-gadget, we perform cosmological simulations of FDM that fully model the dynamical effects of the quantum potential throughout cosmic evolution. Through the combined analysis of FDM volume and high-resolution zoom-in simulations of different FDM particle masses ($m_{\chi }$$\sim$$10^{-23}\!-\!10^{-21}$ eV c−2), we study how FDM impacts the abundance of substructure and the inner density profiles of dark matter haloes. For the first time, using our FDM volume simulations, we provide a fitting formula for the FDM-to-CDM subhalo abundance ratio as a function of the FDM mass. More importantly, our simulations clearly demonstrate that there exists an extended FDM particle mass interval able to reproduce the observed substructure counts and, at the same time, create substantial cores ($r_{c} \sim 1$ kpc) in the density profile of dwarf galaxies ($\approx 10^{9}\!-\!10^{10}$ M$_{\odot }$), which stands in stark contrast with CDM predictions even with baryonic effects taken into account. The dark matter distribution in the faintest galaxies offers then a clear way to discriminate between FDM and CDM.

Halo densities and pericenter distances of the bright Milky Way satellites as a test of dark matter physics

ABSTRACT We provide new constraints on the dark matter halo density profile of Milky Way (MW) dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) using the phase-space distribution function (DF) method. After assessing the systematics of the approach against mock data from the Gaia Challenge project, we apply the DF analysis to the entire kinematic sample of well-measured MW dwarf satellites for the first time. Contrary to previous findings for some of these objects, we find that the DF analysis yields results consistent with the standard Jeans analysis. In particular, in this study we rediscover (i) a large diversity in the inner halo densities of dSphs (bracketed by Draco and Fornax), and (ii) an anticorrelation between inner halo density and pericenter distance of the bright MW satellites. Regardless of the strength of the anticorrelation, we find that the distribution of these satellites in density versus pericenter space is inconsistent with the results of the high-resolution N-body simulations that include a disc potential. Our analysis motivates further studies on the role of internal feedback and dark matter microphysics in these dSphs.

Possible existence of Rastall–Rainbow wormholes in dark matter galactic halos

The Rastall–Rainbow gravity theory has recently been proposed as a combination of the Rastall and rainbow theories. This theory can be thought as a generalization of the Rastall gravity to an energy dependent Rastall theory, and leads to an additional degrees of freedom. In this paper, we construct models that admit the wormhole geometries within this theory. We analyze the properties of static wormholes based on the profiles of dark matter halos, which was demonstrated earlier in Rahaman et al. (Eur Phys J C 74:2750, 2014) that galactic halo possesses the necessary properties in favour of the existence of wormholes. The main properties are being analyzed by considering three different kinds of halo density profiles. Our results indicate that such wormholes could potentially exist but the NEC is violated in the vicinity of the wormhole throat. We have further examined the stability of the configuration through the adiabatic sound velocity.

Microgalaxies in LCDM

A fundamental prediction of the Lambda cold dark matter cosmology is the centrally divergent cuspy density profile of dark matter haloes. Density cusps render cold dark matter haloes resilient to tides, and protect dwarf galaxies embedded in them from full tidal disruption. The hierarchical assembly history of the Milky Way may therefore give rise to a population of “microgalaxies”; i.e., heavily stripped remnants of early accreted satellites, which can reach arbitrarily low luminosity. Assuming that the progenitor systems are dark matter dominated, we use an empirical formalism for tidal stripping to predict the evolution of the luminosity, size, and velocity dispersion of such remnants, tracing their tidal evolution across multiple orders of magnitude in mass and size. The evolutionary tracks depend sensitively on the progenitor distribution of stellar binding energies. We explore three cases that likely bracket most realistic models of dwarf galaxies: one where the energy distribution of the most tightly bound stars follows that of the dark matter, and two where stars are defined by either an exponential density or surface brightness profile. The tidal evolution in the size–velocity dispersion plane is quite similar for these three models, although their remnants may differ widely in luminosity. Microgalaxies are therefore best distinguished from globular clusters by the presence of dark matter; either directly, by measuring their velocity dispersion, or indirectly, by examining their tidal resilience. Our work highlights the need for further theoretical and observational constraints on the stellar energy distribution in dwarf galaxies.

Primordial Black Hole–Neutron Star Merger Rate in Modified Gravity

In this work, we investigate the merger rate of primordial black hole–neutron star (PBH-NS) binaries in two widely studied modified gravity (MG) models: Hu–Sawicki f(R) gravity and the normal branch of Dvali–Gabadadze–Porrati gravity. In our analysis, we take into account the effects of MG on the halo properties, including halo mass function, halo concentration parameter, halo density profile, and velocity dispersion of dark matter particles. We find that these MG models, due to their stronger gravitational field induced by an effective fifth force, predict enhanced merger rates compared to general relativity. This enhancement is found to be redshift-dependent and sensitive to model parameters and PBH mass and fraction. Assuming a PBH mass range of 5–50 M ⊙, we compare the predicted merger rate of PBH-NS binaries with those inferred from LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA observations of gravitational waves (GWs). We find that the merger rates obtained from MG models will be consistent with the GW observations if the abundance of PBHs is relatively large, with the exact amount depending on the MG model and its parameter values, as well as PBH mass. We also establish upper limits on the abundance of PBHs in these MG frameworks while comparing them with the existing non-GW constraints, which can potentially impose even more stringent constraints.

From inflation to dark matter halo profiles: the impact of primordial non-Gaussianities on the central density cusp

It has recently been shown that local primordial non-Gaussianities (PNG) with significant amplitude (|f NL| ∼ 1000), at small (Mpc) scales, can help in forming simulated galaxies with more disky baryonic kinematics than in the Gaussian case, while generating matter power spectra that can differ by up to 20% from the Gaussian case at non-linear scales. Here, we explore in detail the consequences of such small-scale PNG on the dark matter halo profiles. We show in particular that, for negative f NL, dark matter halos formed in collisionless simulations are not always well described by the traditional Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) profiles, as supported by their sparsity distribution. We conclude that NFW profiles are not as clear attractors for the density profiles of dark matter halos in the presence of PNG than in the case of a Gaussian contrast density field. We show how alternatives to the NFW profile can describe halos both in the Gaussian and non-Gaussian cases. From the combination of our sparsity analysis and the quality of the adjustments of the density profiles with a minimal extension to NFW, we conclude that z = 1 halos carry the most interesting information about PNG.

Taking the pulse of the outer Milky Way with the Halo Outskirts With Variable Stars (HOWVAST) survey: an RR Lyrae density profile out to >200 kpc

ABSTRACT In order to constrain the evolutionary history of the Milky Way, we hunt for faint RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) using Dark Energy Camera data from the High cadence Transient Survey and the Halo Outskirts With Variable Stars survey. We report the detection of $\sim$500 RRLs, including previously identified stars and $\sim$90 RRLs not yet reported. We identify nine new RRLs beyond 100 kpc from the Sun, most of which are classified as fundamental-mode pulsators. The periods and amplitudes of the distant RRLs do not place them in either one of the two classical Oosterhoff groups, but in the Oosterhoff intermediate region. We detect two groups of clumped distant RRLs with similar distances and equatorial coordinates, which we interpret as an indication of their association with undiscovered bound or unbound satellites. We study the halo density profile using spheroidal and ellipsoidal ($q=0.7$) models, following a Markov chain Monte Carlo methodology. For a spheroidal halo, our derived radial profile is consistent with a broken power law with a break at $18.1^{+2.1}_{-1.1}$ kpc separating the inner and the outer halo, and an outer slope of $-4.47^{+0.11}_{-0.18}$. For an ellipsoidal halo, the break is located at $24.3^{+2.6}_{-3.2}$ kpc and the outer slope is $-4.57^{+0.17}_{-0.25}$. The break in the density profile is a feature visible in different directions of the halo. The similarity of these radial distributions with previous values reported in the literature seems to depend on the regions of the sky surveyed (direction and total area) and halo tracer used. Our findings are compatible with simulations and observations that predict that the outer regions of Milky Way-like galaxies are mainly composed of accreted material.

Halo Asymmetry in the Modeling of Galaxy Clustering

Conventional studies of galaxy clustering within the framework of halo models typically assume that the density profile of all dark matter halos can be approximated by the Navarro–Frenk–White (NFW) spherically symmetric profile. However, both modern N-body simulations and observational data suggest that most halos are either oblate or prolate, and almost never spherical. In this paper we present a modified model of the galaxy correlation function. In addition to the five “classical” halo occupation distribution (HOD) parameters proposed by Zheng et al., it includes an additional free parameter ϕ in the modified NFW density profile describing the asymmetry of the host dark matter halo. Using a subhalo abundance matching model, we populate galaxies within BolshoiP N-body simulations. We compute the projected two-point correlation function w p (r p ) for six stellar-mass volume-limited galaxy samples. We fit our model to the results and then compare the best-fit asymmetry parameter ϕ (and other halo parameters) to the asymmetry of dark matter halos measured directly from the simulations and find that they agree within 1σ. We then fit our model to the w p (r p ) results from Zehavi et al. and compare halo parameters. We show that our model accurately retrieves the halo asymmetry and other halo parameters. Additionally, we find 2%–6% differences between the halo masses ( logMmin and logM 1) estimated by our model and those estimated by “classical” HOD models. The model proposed in this paper can serve as an alternative to multiparameter HOD models, since it can be used for relatively small samples of galaxies.

Wormhole solutions under the effect of dark matter in f(R, L m ) gravity

In the background of f(R, L m ) gravity, this work investigates three distinct dark matter halo profiles to test the possibility of generalised wormhole geometry within the galactic halo regions. The current study aims to accomplish these goals by examining various dark matter profiles including universal rotation curves (URC), Navarro–Frenk–White (NFW) model-I, and NFW model-II inside two distinct f(R, L m ) gravity models. According to the f(R,Lm)=R2+Lmα model, the dark matter (DM) halo density profiles produce suitable shape functions that meet all the necessary requirements for exhibiting the wormhole geometries with appropriate choice of free parameters. In addition, to examine DM profiles under the f(R,Lm)=R2+(1+λR)Lm model, we consider a specific shape function. Further, we observed that the derived solution from both two models violates the null energy constraints, confirming that the DM supports wormholes to maintain in the galactic halo.

Impact of dark matter galactic halo models on wormhole geometry within f(Q,T) gravity

This study investigates the possible existence of wormhole solutions with dark matter galactic halo profiles in the background of f(Q,T) gravity. The primary focus of the current study is to find the significance of dark matter (DM) in the search for traversable wormhole solutions within galactic halos. Various dark matter profiles, such as Universal Rotation Curves (URC), Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) model-I, and NFW model-II, are examined within two different f(Q,T) models. The DM halo density profiles generate appropriate shape functions under the linear model that satisfy all the essential conditions for presenting the wormhole geometries. Apart from that, we take into account an embedded wormhole-specific shape function to inspect DM profiles under the non-linear model. We noticed that the null energy conditions are violated by the obtained solution from each model, which confirms that the DM support wormholes to sustain in the galactic halo. The findings reveal that the solutions obtained for different density profiles of dark matter halos within generalized symmetric teleparallel gravity demonstrate viability.

Explaining Dark Matter Halo Density Profiles with Neural Networks.

We use explainable neural networks to connect the evolutionary history of dark matter halos with their density profiles. The network captures independent factors of variation in the density profiles within a low-dimensional representation, which we physically interpret using mutual information. Without any prior knowledge of the halos' evolution, the network recovers the known relation between the early time assembly and the inner profile and discovers that the profile beyond the virial radius is described by a single parameter capturing the most recent mass accretion rate. The results illustrate the potential for machine-assisted scientific discovery in complicated astrophysical datasets.