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Register a new userLost & Found Dark Matter in Elliptical Galaxies
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A. Dekel
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There is strong evidence that the mass in the Universe is dominated by dark matter, which exerts gravitational attraction but whose exact nature is unknown. In particular, all galaxies are believed to be embedded in massive haloes of dark matter. This view has recently been challenged by surprisingly low random stellar velocities in the outskirts of ordinary elliptical galaxies, which were interpreted as indicating a lack of dark matter (Mendez et al. 2001; Romanowsky et al. 2003). Here we show that the low velocities are in fact compatible with galaxy formation in dark-matter haloes. Using numerical simulations of disc-galaxy mergers, we find that the stellar orbits in the outer regions of the resulting ellipticals are very elongated. These stars were torn by tidal forces from their original galaxies during the first close passage and put on outgoing trajectories. The elongated orbits, combined with the steeply falling density profile of the observed tracers, explain the observed low velocities even in the presence of large amounts of dark matter. Projection effects when viewing a triaxial elliptical can lead to even lower observed velocities along certain lines of sight.
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We review X-ray constraints on dark matter in giant elliptical galaxies (10^{12} M_sun <~ M_vir <~ 10^{13} M_sun) obtained using the current generation of X-ray satellites, beginning with an overview of the physics of the hot interstellar medium and mass modeling methodology. Dark matter is now firmly established in many galaxies, with inferred NFW concentration parameters somewhat larger than the mean theoretical relation. X-ray observations confirm that the total mass profile (baryons+DM) is close to isothermal (M ~ r), and new evidence suggests a more general power-law relation for the slope of the total mass profile that varies with the stellar half-light radius. We also discuss constraints on the baryon fraction, super-massive black holes, and axial ratio of the dark matter halo. Finally, we review constraints on non-thermal gas motions and discuss the accuracy of the hydrostatic equilibrium approximation in elliptical galaxies.
Given the recently deduced relationship between X-ray temperatures and stellar velocity dispersions (the T-sigma relation) in an optically complete sample of elliptical galaxies (Davis & White 1996), we demonstrate that L>L_* ellipticals contain substantial amounts of dark matter in general. We present constraints on the dark matter scale length and on the dark-to-luminous mass ratio within the optical half-light radius and within the entire galaxy. For example, we find that minimum values of dark matter core radii scale as r_dm > 4(L_V/3L_*)^{3/4}h^{-1}_80 kpc and that the minimum dark matter mass fraction is >~20% within one optical effective radius r_e and is >~39-85% within 6r_e, depending on the stellar density profile and observed value of beta_spec. We also confirm the prediction of Davis & White (1996) that the dark matter is characterized by velocity dispersions that are greater than those of the luminous stars: sigma_dm^2 ~ 1.4-2 sigma_*^2. The T-sigma relation implies a nearly constant mass-to-light ratio within six half-light radii: M/L_V ~ 25h_80 M_sun/L_V_sun. This conflicts with the simplest extension of CDM theories of large scale structure formation to galactic scales; we consider a couple of modifications which can better account for the observed T-sigma relation.
The kinematics of the outer parts of three intermediate-luminosity elliptical galaxies have been studied using the Planetary Nebula Spectrograph. The galaxies velocity dispersion profiles are found to decline with radius; dynamical modeling of the data indicates the presence of little if any dark matter in these galaxies halos. This surprising result conflicts with findings in other galaxy types, and poses a challenge to current galaxy formation theories.
Elliptical galaxies are modelled with a a 4-component model: Sersic stars, LCDM dark matter (DM), hot gas and central black hole. DM is negligible in the inner regions, which are dominated by stars and the central black hole. This prevents any kinematical estimate (using a Jeans analysis) of the inner slope of the DM density profile. The gas fraction rises, but the baryon fraction decreases with radius, at least out to 10 effective radii (R_e). Even with line-of-sight velocity dispersion (VD) measurements at 4 to 6 R_e with 20 km/s accuracy and perfectly known velocity anisotropy, the total mass within the virial radius (r_v) is uncertain by a factor over 3. The DM distributions found in LCDM simulations are consistent with the stellar VD profiles, but appear inconsistent with the low VDs measured by Romanowsky et al. (2003) of planetary nebulae between 2 and 5 R_e, which imply such low M/Ls that the baryon fraction within r_v must be greater than the universal value. Replacing the NFW DM model by the new model of Navarro et al. (2004) decreases slightly the VD at a given radius. So, given the observed VD measured at 5 R_e, the inferred M/L within r_v is 40% larger than predicted with the NFW model. Folding in the slight (strong) radial anisotropy found in LCDM (merger) simulations, which is well modelled (much better than with the Osipkov-Merritt formula) with beta(r) = 1/2 r/(r+a), the inferred M/L within r_v is another 1.6 (2.4) times higher than for the isotropic NFW model. Thus, the DM model and radial anisotropy can partly explain the low PN VDs, but not in full. In an appendix, single integral expressions are derived for the VDs in terms of the tracer density and total mass profiles, for 3 anisotropic models: radial, Osipkov-Merritt, and the model above, for general radial profiles of luminosity density and mass.
The kinematics of stars and planetary nebulae in early type galaxies provide vital clues to the enigmatic physics of their dark matter halos. We fit published data for fourteen such galaxies using a spherical, self-gravitating model with two components: (1) a Sersic stellar profile fixed according to photometric parameters, and (2) a polytropic dark matter halo that conforms consistently to the shared gravitational potential. The polytropic equation of state can describe extended theories of dark matter involving self-interaction, non-extensive thermostatistics, or boson condensation (in a classical limit). In such models, the flat-cored mass profiles widely observed in disc galaxies are due to innate dark physics, regardless of any baryonic agitation. One of the natural parameters of this scenario is the number of effective thermal degrees of freedom of dark matter (F_d) which is proportional to the dark heat capacity. By default we assume a cosmic ratio of baryonic and dark mass. Non-Sersic kinematic ideosyncrasies and possible non-sphericity thwart fitting in some cases. In all fourteen galaxies the fit with a polytropic dark halo improves or at least gives similar fits to the velocity dispersion profile, compared to a stars-only model. The good halo fits usually prefer F_d values from six to eight. This range complements the recently inferred limit of 7<F_d<10 (Saxton & Wu), derived from constraints on galaxy cluster core radii and black hole masses. However a degeneracy remains: radial orbital anisotropy or a depleted dark mass fraction could shift our models preference towards lower F_d; whereas a loss of baryons would favour higher F_d.
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