Why Baryons Matter: The Kinematics of Dwarf Spheroidal Satellites

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through high-resolution simulations that baryonic physics significantly alters the dark matter distribution in dwarf spheroidal satellites, aligning theoretical predictions with observed galaxy dynamics.

Contribution

It shows that including baryonic effects in simulations resolves discrepancies between Cold Dark Matter models and observed satellite galaxy kinematics.

Findings

Baryonic feedback reduces dark matter mass in satellite centers.

Simulated satellites match observed velocity and luminosity functions.

Field dwarfs should have higher velocities than satellites at similar luminosities.

Abstract

We use high resolution cosmological simulations of Milky Way-mass galaxies that include both baryons and dark matter to show that baryonic physics (energetic feedback from supernovae and subsequent tidal stripping) significantly reduces the dark matter mass in the central regions of luminous satellite galaxies. The reduced central masses of the simulated satellites reproduce the observed internal dynamics of Milky Way and M31 satellites as a function of luminosity. We use these realistic satellites to update predictions for the observed velocity and luminosity functions of satellites around Milky Way-mass galaxies when baryonic effects are accounted for. We also predict that field dwarf galaxies in the same luminosity range as the Milky Way classical satellites should not exhibit velocities as low as the satellites, since the field dwarfs do not experience tidal stripping. Additionally, the early formation times of the satellites compared to field galaxies at the same luminosity may be apparent in the star formation histories of the two populations. Including baryonic physics in Cold Dark Matter models naturally explains the observed low dark matter densities in the Milky Way's dwarf spheroidal population. Our simulations therefore resolve the tension between kinematics predicted in Cold Dark Matter theory and observations of satellites, without invoking alternative forms of dark matter.