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Tracing Dark Matter with Stars

In this talk, I explore the impact of stellar kinematics on understanding the particle nature of Dark Matter in three separate locations: the solar neighbourhood, the Galactic center, and dwarf galaxies. I first discuss the implications of the different stellar components on direct detection experiments. I show how to use the velocity distribution of stars in the solar neighbourhood to determine the empirical velocity distribution of Dark Matter, critical for direct detection. I present the first model of the largest kinematic component in the solar neighbourhood, the Gaia Sausage, and introduce Nyx, a stellar stream that I discovered in the solar vicinity. I then use an example of a Dark Matter candidate annihilating to gamma rays in the Galactic Center to motivate the need for accurate measurements of the Dark Matter density profile and show how to use current and future stellar measurements from Gaia to obtain such a density profile. Finally, I motivate the need for better strategies to extract the density profiles of dwarf galaxies, by analyzing mock data and reconstructing the inner slope of the Dark Matter profile.

McDonald Insititute seminars bring together experimental and theoretical astroparticle physicists and astronomers. They are held approximately fortnightly, September to November and January to March, and on an ad hoc basis outside of term. They currently take place on Tuesdays at 2:30 PM on Zoom. Contact Aaron Vincent if you would like to attend.

https://www.physics.queensu.ca/facultysites/vincent/seminars/