Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published October 2009 | Published
Journal Article Open

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.

Additional Information

© 2009 The American Physical Society. Received 23 March 2009; published 28 October 2009. We would like to thank Andrew Benson, Marc Kamionkowski, Ariel Keselman, and Jim Peebles for useful discussions. An anonymous referee also provided useful comments. This research was supported by NASA ATP/ BEFS grant NNX07AH06G (PI: Phinney).

Attached Files

Published - Kesden2009p6340Phys_Rev_D.pdf

Files

Kesden2009p6340Phys_Rev_D.pdf
Files (424.7 kB)
Name Size Download all
md5:2fa565f759adfd8b8310354f1239b2cd
424.7 kB Preview Download

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 19, 2023