Ultralight dark matter simulations and stellar dynamics: Tension in dwarf galaxies for <inline-formula><mml:math><mml:mrow><mml:mi>m</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>5</mml:mn><mml:mo>×</mml:mo><mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mn>10</mml:mn></mml:mrow><mml:mr

Teodori, Luca; Caputo, Andrea; Blum, Kfir
Bibliographical reference

Physical Review D

Advertised on:
1
2026
Number of authors
3
IAC number of authors
1
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
We present numerical simulations of dark matter and stellar dynamics in ultralight dark matter halos tailored to mimic dwarf galaxies. An important effect we observe is the dynamical evolution of the stellar half-light radius and velocity dispersion, which makes previous equilibrium models significantly incomplete. Based on half-light radius dynamical evolution, as well as velocity peaks due to soliton core condensation, we show that data from the Fornax, Carina, and Leo II dwarf galaxies disfavors particle masses in the range 5×10-22 eV≲m≲5×10-21 eV. Smaller boson masses, around m≍1×10-22 eV, could cause strong dynamical heating, but we caution that tidal stripping by the Milky Way could moderate the effect. A caveat in our analysis is the omission of stellar self-gravity, which could affect extrapolation back in time if the stellar body was much more compact in the past.
Type