Dark Matter Superfluidity and Galactic Dynamics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a superfluid dark matter model that explains galactic dynamics with MOND-like behavior while remaining consistent with cosmological observations, proposing a unified framework based on axion-like particles.

Contribution

It presents a novel superfluid dark matter model that bridges galactic and cosmological scales, reconciling MOND phenomenology with LambdaCDM.

Findings

Superfluid dark matter reproduces MOND-like acceleration in galaxies.

The model predicts distinct phases of dark matter in clusters and galaxies.

Observable signatures of superfluidity are identified in astrophysical data.

Abstract

We propose a unified framework that reconciles the stunning success of MOND on galactic scales with the triumph of the LambdaCDM model on cosmological scales. This is achieved through the physics of superfluidity. Dark matter consists of self-interacting axion-like particles that thermalize and condense to form a superfluid in galaxies, with ~mK critical temperature. The superfluid phonons mediate a MOND acceleration on baryonic matter. Our framework naturally distinguishes between galaxies (where MOND is successful) and galaxy clusters (where MOND is not): dark matter has a higher temperature in clusters, and hence is in a mixture of superfluid and normal phase. The rich and well-studied physics of superfluidity leads to a number of striking observational signatures.