Confirmation of an anomalously low dark matter content for the galaxy NGC1052-DF4 from deep, high resolution continuum spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study confirms that galaxy NGC1052-DF4 has an unusually low dark matter content by measuring stellar velocity dispersion with high-resolution spectroscopy, challenging standard galaxy formation models.

Contribution

The paper provides the first stellar velocity dispersion measurement of NGC1052-DF4 using deep KCWI observations, confirming its low dark matter content and challenging existing dark matter halo models.

Findings

Stellar velocity dispersion measured at 8.0 km/s

Dynamical mass within half-light radius is approximately 8 x 10^7 solar masses

Results rule out a normal NFW dark matter halo for NGC1052-DF4

Abstract

NGC1052-DF4 was found to be the second "galaxy lacking dark matter" in the NGC1052 group, based on its velocity dispersion of $\sigma_{\rm gc}=4.2^{+4.4}_{-2.2}$ km/s as measured from the radial velocities of seven of its globular clusters. Here we verify this result by measuring the stellar velocity dispersion of the galaxy. We observed the diffuse stellar light in NGC1052-DF4 with the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI) in its highest resolution mode, with $\sigma_{\mathrm{instr}}\approx 7$ km/s. With a total science + sky exposure time of 34hrs, the resulting spectrum is exceptional both in its spectral resolution and its S/N ratio of 23\r{A}$^{-1}$. We find a stellar velocity dispersion of $\sigma_{\rm stars} = 8.0^{+2.3}_{-1.9}$ km/s, consistent with the previous measurement from the globular clusters. Combining both measurements gives a fiducial dispersion of $\sigma_{\rm f} = 6.3_{-1.6}^{+2.5}$ km/s. The implied dynamical mass within the half-light radius is $8_{-4}^{+6} \times 10^7 M_{\odot}$. The expected velocity dispersion of NGC1052-DF4 from the stellar mass alone is $7 \pm 1$ km/s, and for an NFW halo that follows the stellar mass -- halo mass relation and the halo mass -- concentration relation, the expectation is $\sim 30$ km/s. The low velocity dispersion rules out a normal NFW dark matter halo, and we confirm that NGC1052-DF4 is one of at least two galaxies in the NGC1052 group that have an anomalously low dark matter content. While any viable model for their formation should explain the properties of both galaxies, we note that NGC1052-DF4 now poses the largest challenge as it has the most stringent constraints on its dynamical mass.