Superfluid Dark Matter

TL;DR

The paper reviews the superfluid dark matter model, which proposes ultralight bosons forming superfluid cores in galaxies, potentially resolving discrepancies between cold dark matter predictions and galactic observations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical foundations, phenomenological implications, and observational constraints of dark matter superfluidity as a novel extension of cosmology.

Findings

Superfluid cores can form in galactic environments under certain conditions.

Superfluidity affects galaxy mergers, vortex formation, and black hole interactions.

Observational data constrains the parameter space of superfluid dark matter.

Abstract

The superfluid dark matter model offers an elegant solution to reconcile discrepancies between the predictions of the cold dark matter paradigm and observations on galactic scales. In this scenario, dark matter is composed of ultralight bosons with self-interactions that can undergo a superfluid phase transition in galactic environments. In this review, we explore the theoretical foundations of dark matter superfluidity, detailing the conditions required for the formation and stability of superfluid cores of astrophysical size. We examine the phenomenological consequences for galactic dynamics, including the impact on galaxy mergers, the formation of vortices, the behavior near supermassive black holes, modifications to dynamical friction, and the emergence of long-range interactions. By synthesizing theoretical developments with observational constraints, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status and future prospects of dark matter superfluidity as a viable extension of the standard cosmological model.