Ultra-light Dark Matter is Incompatible with the Milky Way's Dwarf Satellites

Abstract

The density profiles of dwarf galaxies are a highly varied set. If the dark matter is an ultra-light particle such as axions, then simulations predict a distinctive and unique profile. If the axion mass is large enough to fit the ultra-faint dwarf (UFD) satellites($m⪆10^{-21}$ eV), then the models do not fit the density profile of Fornax and Sculptor and are ruled out by more than $3-\sigma$ confidence. If the axion mass is in the mass range that can fit mass profiles of Fornax and Sculptor dwarf spheroidals, then its extended profile implies enormous masses ($\approx 10^{11}-10^{12}{M}_{\odot }$) for the UFDs. These large masses for the UFDS are ruled out by more than $3-\sigma$ confidence by dynamical friction arguments. The tension would increase further considering star formation histories and stellar masses of the UFDs. Unless future ultra-light dark matter (ULDM) simulations with baryonic feedback show a significant change in the density structure of the halos, the current data is incompatible with the ULDM scenario. Relaxing the slope constraint from classical dwarf galaxies would lead to excluding ULDM with mass less than $6\times 10^{-22}$ eV.

Accepted for publication in ApJ main journal

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