Fuzzy Aquarius: evolution of a Milky-way like system in the Fuzzy Dark Matter scenario

Matteo Nori, Andrea V. Macciò, Marco Baldi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We present the first high-resolution zoom-in simulation of a Milky-way-like halo extracted from the Aquarius Project in the Fuzzy Dark Matter (FDM) framework. We use the N-body code AX-GADGET, based on a particle-oriented solution of the Schrödinger-Poisson equations, able to detail the complexity of structure formation while keeping track of the quantum effects in FDM. The halo shows a cored density profile, with a core size of several kpc for an FDM mass of mχ = 2.5h × 10-22 eV/c2. A flattening is observed also in the velocity profile, representing a distinct feature of FDM dynamics. We provide a quantitative analysis of the impact of fuzziness on subhaloes in terms of abundance, mass, distance, and velocity distribution functions, and their evolution with redshift. Very interestingly, we show that all collapsed structures, despite showing a flat density profile at z = 0, do not reach the solitonic ground state at the time of formation: on the contrary, they asymptotically converge to it on a time-scale that depends on their mass and formation history. This implies that current limits on FDM mass - obtained by applying simple scaling relations to observed galaxies - should be taken with extreme care, since single objects can significantly deviate from the expected asymptotic behaviour during their evolution.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1451-1463
Number of pages13
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume522
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2023

Keywords

  • (cosmology:) dark matter
  • methods: numerical

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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