Using Cosmic Beasts to Uncover the Nature of Dark Matter

利用宇宙野兽揭示暗物质的本质

• 批准号: MR/S017216/1
• 负责人: Mathilde Jauzac
• 金额: $ 94.78万
• 依托单位: Durham University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=MR%2FS017216%2F1
• 关键词: Using; Cosmic; Beasts; Uncover; Nature

The nature of dark matter is the most elusive question in modern physics. Only 5% of the Universe by weight consists of standard model particles. The remaining 95% would be composed of 'Dark Matter' and 'Dark Energy'. These are invisible, and most particle physics theories predict dark matter to interact so weakly with standard model particles that it will remain fundamentally undetectable in terrestrial experiments. If these theories are correct, dark matter can only be studied where it gathers in sufficient quantities for its gravity to affect things around it we can see. I propose to track the behaviour of dark matter in galaxy clusters (the most massive structures in the universe, also called 'cosmic beasts'), to distinguish between the 3 leading models: cold, warm and self-interacting dark matter.My proposal exploits a dramatic recent increase in observations of galaxy clusters by the world's biggest telescopes, reflecting the field's recognition as a top priority goal. I have been awarded observing time on the Hubble Space Telescope in the largest category of programme (>100 orbits) to obtain the deepest ever imaging of clusters' surroundings, plus follow-up spectroscopy from the largest telescope on Earth (VLT). I designed these observations to map clusters' dark matter, via the effect of 'gravitational lensing', which distorts and magnifies objects behind the cluster. I will use these data (i) by themselves, (ii) to calibrate the largest (but shallow) Hubble imaging awarded to the host institute (iii) to set the agenda for, and optimise facilities like Euclid, Athena and the James Webb Space Telescope through the 2020s.Cosmological simulations indicate that galaxy clusters are the best laboratories to distinguish between models of dark matter, because they are still growing. Clusters grow by merging with each other; every merger acts like a gigantic particle collider. The properties of dark matter are revealed by its trajectory through a collision, which should be between that of stars and of (hydrogen) gas. The properties of stars and hydrogen are well understood, so they bookend measurements of dark matter like the calibration points on a thermometer at 0C and 100C. Traditional research programmes usually separate measurements of dark matter, stars and gas, because they require observations from different (infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray) telescopes. I have developed a multiwavelength analysis, to enable previously impossible measurements such as the time-scale on which dark matter and gas is funneled into clusters, how quickly clusters reach equilibrium, and constraints on possible dark matter particle interactions.I have also led the establishment of a new research area, which I will expand during the FLF. When transient events (such as supernova explosions) happen behind a galaxy cluster, light from the explosion can be gravitationally lensed and visible along more than one line of sight. Measuring the time delay between multiply-imaged versions of a supernova increases the resolution with which the cluster's dark matter can be mapped. Furthermore, predicting the time delay is one of those rare, precious occasions in astrophysics where a hypothesis can be subjected to a true Popperian test, within the timescale of a few years. I have intentionally scheduled my HST and VLT observations to enable the discovery and monitoring of transient events. They also offer the (high risk/high reward) possibility of discovering electromagnetic counterparts to lensed gravitational wave events.My UKRI FLF research programme will thus exploit the latest multiwavelength data from world-class facilities. It uses my high-precision techniques to analyse big data, and will be interpreted within the world-leading theoretical framework of Durham's state-of-the-art cosmological simulations.

暗物质的性质是现代物理学中最难以捉摸的问题。宇宙中只有5%的重量是由标准模型粒子组成的。剩下的95%，则是由“暗物质”和“暗能量”组成。它们是不可见的，大多数粒子物理学理论预测暗物质与标准模型粒子的相互作用非常微弱，以至于在地球实验中基本上无法检测到。如果这些理论是正确的，暗物质只能在它聚集到足够的数量，使其引力影响我们可以看到的周围事物的地方进行研究。我建议跟踪星系团（宇宙中最大的结构，也被称为“宇宙野兽”）中暗物质的行为，以区分3种主要模型：冷，热和自相互作用的暗物质。我的建议利用了世界上最大的望远镜对星系团的观测最近急剧增加，反映了该领域作为首要目标的认可。我被授予在哈勃空间望远镜上进行最大类别的方案（>100个轨道）的观测时间，以获得有史以来最深的星团周围环境成像，加上地球上最大的望远镜（VLT）的后续光谱学。我设计这些观测是为了通过“引力透镜”效应来绘制星系团的暗物质，引力透镜会扭曲和放大星系团后面的物体。我将使用这些数据（i）自己，（ii）校准最大的（但浅）哈勃成像授予主办机构（iii）设置议程，并优化设施，如欧几里得，雅典娜和詹姆斯韦伯太空望远镜到2020年代。宇宙学模拟表明，星系团是最好的实验室来区分暗物质的模型，因为它们仍在增长。团簇通过彼此合并而成长;每一次合并都像一个巨大的粒子对撞机。暗物质的性质可以通过其碰撞轨迹来揭示，碰撞轨迹应该介于恒星和（氢）气体之间。恒星和氢的性质已经被很好地理解了，所以他们对暗物质的测量就像温度计上0 ℃和100 ℃的校准点一样。传统的研究计划通常将暗物质、恒星和气体的测量分开，因为它们需要不同的（红外、紫外、X射线）望远镜进行观测。我开发了一种多波长分析方法，使以前不可能的测量成为可能，例如暗物质和气体进入星系团的时间尺度，星系团达到平衡的速度，以及对可能的暗物质粒子相互作用的限制。我还领导建立了一个新的研究领域，我将在FLF期间扩展该领域。当短暂的事件（如超新星爆炸）发生在星系团后面时，来自爆炸的光可以被引力透镜化，并沿着沿着多条视线可见。测量超新星多重成像之间的时间延迟，可以提高绘制星团暗物质的分辨率。此外，在天体物理学中，预测时间延迟是一种罕见的、宝贵的情况，在这种情况下，一个假设可以在几年的时间尺度内接受真正的波普尔检验。我特意安排了我的HST和VLT观测，以便发现和监测瞬态事件。它们还提供了（高风险/高回报）发现引力波透镜事件的电磁对应物的可能性。因此，我的UKRI FLF研究计划将利用来自世界一流设施的最新多波长数据。它使用我的高精度技术来分析大数据，并将在达勒姆最先进的宇宙学模拟的世界领先的理论框架内进行解释。

项目成果

Joint HST, VLT/MUSE and XMM-Newton observations to constrain the mass distribution of the two strong lensing galaxy clusters: MACS J0242.5-2132 & MACS J0949.8+1708

联合 HST、VLT/MUSE 和 XMM-Newton 观测来约束两个强透镜星系团的质量分布：MACS J0242.5-2132

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2207.10520
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: arXiv e-prints
• 作者: Allingham Joseph F. V.

On the gravitational lensing interpretation of three gravitational wave detections in the mass gap by LIGO and Virgo

LIGO和Virgo对质量隙中三个引力波探测的引力透镜解释

• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stad673
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
• 影响因子: 4.8
• 作者: Bianconi M

Stellar splashback: the edge of the intracluster light

• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staa3590
• 发表时间: 2020-10
• 期刊: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
• 影响因子: 4.8
• 作者: A. Deason;K. Oman;Azadeh Fattahi;M. Schaller;M. Jauzac;Yuanyuan Zhang;M. Montes;Y. Bahé;C. Dalla Vecchia-C.-Dalla Vecchia-2124570738;S. Kay;Tilly A Evans

A new step forward in realistic cluster lens mass modelling: Analysis of Hubble Frontier Field Cluster Abell S1063 from joint lensing, X-ray and galaxy kinematics data

现实星团透镜质量建模的新进步：根据联合透镜、X 射线和星系运动学数据分析哈勃前沿场星团 Abell S1063

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2301.10907
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: arXiv e-prints
• 作者: Beauchesne Benjamin

On the correlation between dark matter, intracluster light and globular cluster distribution in SMACS0723

SMACS0723中暗物质、簇内光与球状星团分布的相关性

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2301.03629
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: arXiv e-prints
• 作者: Diego J. M.