Novel constraints on fermionic dark matter from galactic observables I: The Milky Way

TL;DR

This paper explores a fermionic dark matter model for the Milky Way, proposing a dense quantum core that could serve as an alternative to a black hole, consistent with galactic observations.

Contribution

It introduces a cutoff-modified fermionic dark matter model that explains galactic halos and central cores, offering an alternative to black holes in galactic centers.

Findings

The model fits Milky Way rotation curve data.

Predicts a dense quantum core of about 4 million solar masses.

Provides an alternative explanation to black holes for SgrA*.

Abstract

We have recently introduced a new model for the distribution of dark matter (DM) in galaxies based on a self-gravitating system of massive fermions at finite temperatures, the Ruffini-Arg\"uelles-Rueda (RAR) model. We show that this model, for fermion masses in the keV range, explains the DM halo of the Galaxy and predicts the existence of a denser quantum core at the center. We demonstrate here that the introduction of a cutoff in the fermion phase-space distribution, necessary to account for the finite Galaxy size, defines a new solution with a central core which represents an alternative to the black hole (BH) scenario for SgrA*. For a fermion mass in the range $mc^2 = 48$ -- $345$~keV, the DM halo distribution is in agreement with the Milky Way rotation curve data, while harbors a dense quantum core of about $4\times10^6 M_\odot$ within the S2-star pericenter.