Environment Dependence of Dark Matter Halos in Symmetron Modified Gravity

TL;DR

This paper explores how dark matter halos behave differently in symmetron modified gravity depending on their environment, revealing significant mass and environment-dependent effects on lensing and dynamical masses.

Contribution

It demonstrates the environment dependence of dark matter halos in symmetron gravity through high-resolution simulations, highlighting differences from other modified gravity models.

Findings

Significant difference between lensing and dynamical masses in halos.

Dependence of screening effectiveness on halo mass and environment.

Stronger signatures possible due to adjustable coupling strength.

Abstract

We investigate the environment dependence of dark matter halos in the symmetron modified gravity scenario. The symmetron is one of three known mechanisms for screening a fifth-force and thereby recovering General Relativity in dense environments. The effectiveness of the screening depends on both the mass of the object and the environment it lies in. Using high-resolution N-body simulations we find a significant difference, which depends on the halos mass and environment, between the lensing and dynamical masses of dark matter halos similar to the f(R) modified gravity. The symmetron can however yield stronger signatures due to a freedom in the strength of the coupling to matter.