GD-1 and the Milky Way Starless Dark Matter Subhalos

Measurements of the GD-1 star stream velocity distribution within ±3° of the centerline find a total line-of-sight velocity spread of 5–6 km s ^−1 in the-well measured ϕ _1  = [−30, 0] region. The velocity spread is far above the ∼2–3 km s ^−1 of a dissolved globular cluster in a smooth galactic pot...

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Main Author: Raymond G. Carlberg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adec91
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author Raymond G. Carlberg
author_facet Raymond G. Carlberg
author_sort Raymond G. Carlberg
collection DOAJ
description Measurements of the GD-1 star stream velocity distribution within ±3° of the centerline find a total line-of-sight velocity spread of 5–6 km s ^−1 in the-well measured ϕ _1  = [−30, 0] region. The velocity spread is far above the ∼2–3 km s ^−1 of a dissolved globular cluster in a smooth galactic potential. Dynamical heating of the GD-1 star stream is simulated in an evolving model Milky Way potential that includes the subhalos extracted from cosmological cold dark matter (CDM) and warm dark matter (WDM) Milky Way–like halos. The model bridges fully cosmological Milky Way–like halos and late-time static Milky Way potentials, allowing individual streams to be accurately integrated. An evolving CDM subhalo population acting for ∼11 Gyr heats GD-1 to 6.2  ±  1.7 km s ^−1 . The WDM (7 keV and lighter) models develop a velocity dispersion of 3.9  ±  0.2 km s ^−1 , only slightly greater than the 3.5 km s ^−1 in an evolving smooth halo without subhalos for 11 Gyr. The dynamical age of the best model stream is close to the isochrone age of the stars in the stream. Subhalos with masses in the decade around 10 ^7.5 M _⊙ , below the mass range of dwarf galaxies, dominate the dynamical stream heating.
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spelling doaj-art-b5bc0b449eab4c48962eda183b8d24ea2025-08-20T02:54:51ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-0198913810.3847/1538-4357/adec91GD-1 and the Milky Way Starless Dark Matter SubhalosRaymond G. Carlberg0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7667-0081Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON M5S 3H4, CanadaMeasurements of the GD-1 star stream velocity distribution within ±3° of the centerline find a total line-of-sight velocity spread of 5–6 km s ^−1 in the-well measured ϕ _1  = [−30, 0] region. The velocity spread is far above the ∼2–3 km s ^−1 of a dissolved globular cluster in a smooth galactic potential. Dynamical heating of the GD-1 star stream is simulated in an evolving model Milky Way potential that includes the subhalos extracted from cosmological cold dark matter (CDM) and warm dark matter (WDM) Milky Way–like halos. The model bridges fully cosmological Milky Way–like halos and late-time static Milky Way potentials, allowing individual streams to be accurately integrated. An evolving CDM subhalo population acting for ∼11 Gyr heats GD-1 to 6.2  ±  1.7 km s ^−1 . The WDM (7 keV and lighter) models develop a velocity dispersion of 3.9  ±  0.2 km s ^−1 , only slightly greater than the 3.5 km s ^−1 in an evolving smooth halo without subhalos for 11 Gyr. The dynamical age of the best model stream is close to the isochrone age of the stars in the stream. Subhalos with masses in the decade around 10 ^7.5 M _⊙ , below the mass range of dwarf galaxies, dominate the dynamical stream heating.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adec91Milky Way GalaxyGalaxy dark matter halosStellar streams
spellingShingle Raymond G. Carlberg
GD-1 and the Milky Way Starless Dark Matter Subhalos
The Astrophysical Journal
Milky Way Galaxy
Galaxy dark matter halos
Stellar streams
title GD-1 and the Milky Way Starless Dark Matter Subhalos
title_full GD-1 and the Milky Way Starless Dark Matter Subhalos
title_fullStr GD-1 and the Milky Way Starless Dark Matter Subhalos
title_full_unstemmed GD-1 and the Milky Way Starless Dark Matter Subhalos
title_short GD-1 and the Milky Way Starless Dark Matter Subhalos
title_sort gd 1 and the milky way starless dark matter subhalos
topic Milky Way Galaxy
Galaxy dark matter halos
Stellar streams
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adec91
work_keys_str_mv AT raymondgcarlberg gd1andthemilkywaystarlessdarkmattersubhalos