Journal Article PUBDB-2016-00409

The real and apparent convergence of N-body simulations of the dark matter structures: Is the Navarro–Frenk–White profile real?

(Corresponding author)DESY*

2015
Elsevier Science Amsterdam [u.a.]

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Abstract: While N-body simulations suggest a cuspy profile in the centra of the dark matter halos of galaxies, the majority of astronomical observations favor a relatively soft cored density distribution of these regions. The routine method of testing the convergence of N-body simulations (in particular, the negligibility of two-body scattering effect) is to find the conditions under which formed structures is insensitive to numerical parameters. The results obtained with this approach suggest a surprisingly minor role of the particle collisions: the central density profile remains untouched and close to the Navarro–Frenk–White shape, even if the simulation time significantly exceeds the collisional relaxation time $τ_{r}$. In order to check the influence of the unphysical test body collisions we use the Fokker–Planck equation. It turns out that a profile $ρ\propto r^{-β}$ where $β\simeq1$ is an attractor: the Fokker–Planck diffusion transforms any reasonable initial distribution into it in a time shorter than $τ_{r}$, and then the cuspy profile should survive much longer than τrτr, since the Fokker–Planck diffusion is self-compensated if $β\simeq1$. Thus the purely numerical effect of test body scattering may create a stable NFW-like pseudosolution. Moreover, its stability may be mistaken for the simulation convergence. We present analytical estimations for this potential bias effect and call for numerical tests. For that purpose, we suggest a simple test that can be performed as the simulation progresses and would indicate the magnitude of the collisional influence and the veracity of the simulation results.

Classification:

Note: (c) Elsevier B.V.

Contributing Institute(s):
1. theoretische Astroteilchenphysik (ZEU-THAT)
Research Program(s):
1. 613 - Matter and Radiation from the Universe (POF3-613) (POF3-613)
Experiment(s):
1. No specific instrument

Appears in the scientific report 2015
Database coverage:
; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection
 The record appears in these collections:Organizational Units > >DESY > >ZEUTHEN > ZEU-THATPrivate Collections > >DESY > >ZEUTHEN > ZEU-THATDocument types > Articles > Journal ArticlePublic recordsPublications databaseOpenAccess

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