On self-gravitating strange dark matter halos around galaxies

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new model of galactic dark matter halos composed of strange quark matter conglomerates, explaining observed rotational curves and suggesting a common origin for different galaxy types.

Contribution

It introduces a novel class of nonrelativistic, Newtonian equilibrium configurations for dark matter halos based on strange quark matter conglomerates, expanding dark matter candidate options.

Findings

Halo mass and radius match observed galactic rotation curves.

Dark matter density aligns with that of dwarf spheroidal galaxy halos.

Supports a unified origin for different cosmic structures.

Abstract

A new family of nonrelativistic, Newtonian, non-quantum equilibrium configurations describing galactic halos is introduced, by considering strange quark matter conglomerates with masses larger than about 8 GeV as new possible components of the dark matter. Originally introduced to explain the state of matter in neutron stars, such conglomerates may also form in the high-density and temperature conditions of the primordial Universe and then decouple from ordinary baryonic matter, providing the fundamental components of dark matter for the formation of pristine gravitational potential wells and the subsequent evolution of cosmic structures. The obtained results for halo mass and radius are consistent with the rotational velocity curve observed in the Galaxy. Additionally, the average density of such dark matter halos is similar to that derived for halos of dwarf spheroidal galaxies, which can therefore be interpreted as downscaled versions of larger dark matter distributions around Milky Way-sized galaxies and hint for a common origin of the two families of cosmic structures.