Skip to main content
eScholarship
Open Access Publications from the University of California

UC Davis

UC Davis Previously Published Works bannerUC Davis

Dissipative dark matter on FIRE – I. Structural and kinematic properties of dwarf galaxies

Published Web Location

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2102.09580.pdf
No data is associated with this publication.
Abstract

We present the first set of cosmological baryonic zoom-in simulations of galaxies including dissipative self-interacting dark matter (dSIDM). These simulations utilize the Feedback In Realistic Environments galaxy formation physics, but allow the dark matter to have dissipative self-interactions analogous to standard model forces, parametrized by the self-interaction crosssection per unit mass, (σ/m), and the dimensionless degree of dissipation, 0 < fdiss < 1. We survey this parameter space, including constant and velocity-dependent cross-sections, and focus on structural and kinematic properties of dwarf galaxies with Mhalo ∼ 1010.11M⊙ and M∗ ∼ 105.8M⊙. Central density profiles (parametrized as ρ ∝ rα) of simulated dwarfs become cuspy when (σ/m)eff ≳ 0.1 cm2 g-1 (and fdiss = 0.5 as fiducial). The power-law slopes asymptote to α ≈ -1.5 in low-mass dwarfs independent of cross-section, which arises from a dark matter 'cooling flow'. Through comparisons with dark matter only simulations, we find the profile in this regime is insensitive to the inclusion of baryons. However, when (σ/m)eff ≤ 0.1 cm2 g-1, baryonic effects can produce cored density profiles comparable to non-dissipative cold dark matter (CDM) runs but at smaller radii. Simulated galaxies with (σ/m) ≳ 10 cm2 g-1 and the fiducial fdiss develop significant coherent rotation of dark matter, accompanied by halo deformation, but this is unlike the well-defined thin 'dark discs' often attributed to baryon-like dSIDM. The density profiles in this high cross-section model exhibit lower normalizations given the onset of halo deformation. For our surveyed dSIDM parameters, halo masses and galaxy stellar masses do not show appreciable difference from CDM, but dark matter kinematics and halo concentrations/shapes can differ.

Many UC-authored scholarly publications are freely available on this site because of the UC's open access policies. Let us know how this access is important for you.

Item not freely available? Link broken?
Report a problem accessing this item