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| Paper: |
Dark Matter through Dwarf Satellite Galaxies in Milky-Way Analogue Galaxies in the Local Universe |
| Monograph: |
10, HWO25 Proceedings Part I: Community Science Case Development Documents |
| Page: |
209 |
| Authors: |
Jessica E. Doppel; Ethan O. Nadler; Leonidas Moustakas; Mathilde Jauzac; Richard Massey |
| DOI: |
10.26624/BNOT5263 |
| Abstract: |
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will deliver transformational insights into dark sector science.
Theoretical and empirical studies show that satellite counts of ultra-faint dwarfs (i.e., those with stellar masses
M∗ ≤ 105 M⊙) are valuable probes of deviations from a cold dark matter cosmology and subsequently place
constraints on the warm dark matter particle mass. With HWO, we aim to survey ultra-faint satellites—down
to stellar masses M∗ ∼ 103.5 M⊙—around Milky-Way-mass hosts within a ∼10 Mpc volume. We forecast
that such a survey can yield breakthrough constraints on warm dark matter particle masses up to ∼13 keV
based on a census of ultra-faint satellites around just a few Milky-Way-like hosts. We integrate these forecasts
with the proposed >6m aperture of HWO to optimize an observing plan that will not only survey the diffuse
light of ultra-faint satellites, but also resolve their individual stars at extragalactic scales. The addition of
extragalactic ultra-faints will improve upon current cutting-edge surveys within our proposed survey volume,
such as ELVES, positioning HWO as a major contributor to a breakthrough advancement of dark sector
science.
This article is an adaptation of a science case document developed for HWO’s Dark Sector Steering
Committee. |
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