Author ORCID Identifier

Stacy S. McGaugh

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-20-2003

Abstract

The concentrations of the cuspy dark matter halos predicted by simulations of cold dark matter are related to the cosmology in which the halos form. Observational constraints on halo concentration therefore map into constraints on cosmological parameters. In order to explain the observed concentrations of dark matter-dominated low surface brightness galaxies, we require a cosmology with rather little power on galaxy scales. Formally, we require σ 8Γ0.6 < 0.23, where Γ0.6 is a modified shape parameter appropriate to this problem. Practically, this means that either Ωm < 0.2 or σ8 < 0.8. These limits apply as long as we insist that the cuspy halos found in simulations must describe the halos of low surface brightness galaxies. A low-density cosmology helps with the low observed concentrations, but it offers no explanation of the many cases where the shape of the density profile deviates from the predicted cuspy form. These cases must have suffered very extensive mass redistribution if the current halo formation picture is not to fail outright. It is far from clear whether any of the mass redistribution mechanisms that have been suggested (e.g., feedback) are viable.

Keywords

cosmology, observations, dark matter

Language

English

Publication Title

Astrophysical Journal

Grant

206078

Rights

© The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. This content is free to access, download, and share. For all other uses, you must obtain permission to reuse content: https://journals.aas.org/article-charges-and-copyright/#AAS_material

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