Baryonic and dark matter distribution in cosmological simulations of spiral galaxies

TL;DR

This paper uses cosmological simulations to explore how baryonic processes influence dark matter distribution in Milky Way-like galaxies, revealing core formation, altered density profiles, and impacts on satellite galaxies.

Contribution

It demonstrates the formation of dark matter cores and the interaction between baryons and dark matter in MW-sized halos, with detailed analysis of density profiles and satellite properties.

Findings

Dark matter cores of ~5 kpc form due to feedback processes.

Baryonic effects increase the local dark matter density at the solar radius.

Luminous satellites develop cored profiles, while dark satellites remain cuspy.

Abstract

We study three cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of Milky Way(MW)-sized halos including a comparison with the dark matter(DM)-only counterparts. We find one of our simulated galaxies with interesting MW-like features. Thanks to a consistently tuned star formation rate and supernovae feedback we obtain an extended disk and a flat rotation curve with a satisfying circular velocity and a reasonable DM density in the solar neighbourhood. Mimicking observational methods, we re-derive the stellar mass and obtain stellar-to-halo mass ratios reduced by more than 50\%. We show the interaction between the baryons and the dark matter which is first contracted by star formation and then cored by feedback processes. Indeed, we report an unprecedentedly observed effect in the DM density profile consisting of a central core combined with an adiabatic contraction at larger galactic radii. The cores obtained are typically $\sim$ 5 kpc large. Moreover, this also impacts the DM density at the solar radius. In our simulation resembling most to the MW, the density is raised from 0.23 GeV/cm$^3$ in the dark matter only run to 0.36 GeV/cm$^3$ (spherical shell) or 0.54 GeV/cm$^3$ (circular ring) in the hydrodynamical run. Studying the subhalos, the dark matter within luminous satellites is also affected by baryonic processes and exihibits cored profiles whereas dark satellites are cuspy. We find a shift in mass compared to DM-only simulations and obtain, for halos in the lower MW mass range, a distribution of luminous satellites comparable to the MW spheroidal dwarf galaxies.