Understanding the Formation of Galaxies with Warm Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper explores how warm dark matter influences galaxy formation, developing a theoretical framework validated by observations, and constrains dark matter particle properties based on galaxy rotation curves.

Contribution

It provides a detailed step-by-step physics model for galaxy formation with warm dark matter, filling gaps in understanding compared to cold dark matter models.

Findings

Galaxy formation with warm dark matter is approximately adiabatic.

Observed spiral galaxy rotation curves constrain dark matter particle properties.

The cold dark matter limit is singular and requires relaxation.

Abstract

The formation of galaxies with warm dark matter is approximately adiabatic. The cold dark matter limit is singular and requires relaxation. In these lecture notes we develop, step-by-step, the physics of galaxies with warm dark matter, and their formation. The theory is validated with observed spiral galaxy rotation curves. These observations constrain the properties of the dark matter particles.