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Esra Bulbul

Publications and source records attributed to Esra Bulbul.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Snowmass2021 Cosmic Frontier: Synergies between dark matter searches and multiwavelength/multimessenger astrophysics

This whitepaper focuses on the astrophysical systematics which are encountered in dark matter searches. Oftentimes in indirect and also in direct dark matter searches, astrophysical systematics are a major limiting factor to sensitivity to dark matter. Just as there are many forms of dark matter searches, there are many forms of backgrounds. We attempt to cover the major systematics arising in dark matter searches using photons -- radio and gamma rays -- to cosmic rays, neutrinos and gravitational waves. Examples include astrophysical sources of cosmic messengers and their interactions which can mimic dark matter signatures. In turn, these depend on commensurate studies in understanding the cosmic environment -- gas distributions, magnetic field configurations -- as well as relevant nuclear astrophysics. We also cover the astrophysics governing celestial bodies and galaxies used to probe dark matter, from black holes to dwarf galaxies. Finally, we cover astrophysical backgrounds related to probing the dark matter distribution and kinematics, which impact a wide range of dark matter studies. In the future, the rise of multi-messenger astronomy, and novel analysis methods to exploit it for dark matter, will offer various strategic ways to continue to enhance our understanding of astrophysical backgrounds to deliver improved sensitivity to dark matter.

hep-ph↗

The eROSITA Final Equatorial-Depth Survey (eFEDS): Galaxy Clusters and Groups in Disguise

The eROSITA Final Equatorial-Depth Survey (eFEDS), executed during the performance verification phase of the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG)/eROSITA telescope, was completed in Nov. 2019. One of the science goals of this survey is to demonstrate the ability of eROSITA to detect samples of clusters and groups at the final depth of the eROSITA all-sky survey. Because of the sizeable point-spread function of eROSITA, high-redshift clusters of galaxies or compact nearby groups hosting bright active galactic nuclei (AGN) can be misclassified as point sources by the source detection algorithms. A total of 346 galaxy clusters and groups in the redshift range of 0.1<z<1.3 were identified based on their red sequence in the point source catalog. We examine the multiwavelength properties of these clusters and groups to understand the potential biases in our selection process and the completeness of the extent-selected sample. The majority of the clusters and groups in the point source sample are indeed underluminous and compact compared to the extent-selected sample. Their faint X-ray emission, well below the flux limit of the extent-selected eFEDS clusters, and their compact X-ray emission are likely to be the main reason for this misclassification. In the sample, we confirm that 10% of the sources host AGN in their brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) through optical spectroscopy and visual inspection. By studying their X-ray, optical, infrared, and radio properties, we establish a method for identifying clusters and groups that host AGN in their BCGs. We successfully test this method on the current point source catalog through the Sloan Digital Sky Survey optical spectroscopy and find eight clusters and groups with active radio-loud AGN that are particularly bright in the infrared. They include eFEDSJ091437.8+024558, eFEDSJ083520.1+012516, and eFEDSJ092227.1+043339 at redshifts 0.3-0.4. [ABRIDGED]

astro-ph.GA↗

Establishing the X-ray Source Detection Strategy for eROSITA with Simulations

The eROSITA X-ray telescope on board the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) satellite has started to detect new X-ray sources over the full sky at an unprecedented rate. Understanding the performance and selection function of the source detection is important for the subsequent scientific analysis of the eROSITA catalogs. Through simulations, we test and optimize the eROSITA source detection procedures, and we characterize the detected catalog quantitatively. Taking the eROSITA Final Equatorial-Depth Survey (eFEDS) as an example, we ran extensive photon-event simulations based on our best knowledge of the instrument characteristics, the background spectrum, and the population of astronomical X-ray sources. We introduce a method of analyzing source detection completeness, purity, and efficiency based on the origin of each photon. According to the source detection efficiency measured in the simulation, we chose a two-pronged strategy to build eROSITA X-ray catalogs, creating a main catalog using only the most sensitive band (0.2-2.3 keV) and an independent hard-band-selected catalog using multiband detection in a range up to 5 keV. Because our mock data are highly representative of the real eFEDS data, we used the mock catalogs to measure the completeness and purity of the eFEDS catalogs as a function of multiple parameters, such as detection likelihood, flux, and luminosity. These measurements provide a basis for choosing the eFEDS catalog selection thresholds. The mock catalogs (available with this paper) can be used to construct the selection function of active galactic nuclei and galaxy clusters. A direct comparison of the output and input mock catalogs also gives rise to a correction curve that converts the raw point-source flux distribution into the intrinsic number counts distribution.

astro-ph.IM↗

EROSITA study of the 47~Tucanae globular cluster

Aims. We present the results of the analysis of five observations of the globular cluster 47 Tucanae (47 Tuc) with eROSITA (extended Roentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array) on board Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (Spektr-RG, SRG). The aim of the work is the study of the X-ray population in the field of one of the most massive globular clusters in our Milky Way. We focused on the classification of point-like sources in the field of 47 Tuc. The unresolved dense core of 47 Tuc (1$'$.7 radius) and also the sources, which show extended emission are excluded in this study. Methods. We applied different methods of X-ray spectral and timing analysis together with multi wavelength studies for the classification of the X-rays sources in the field of 47 Tuc. Results. We detected 888 point-like sources in the energy range of 0.2-5.0 keV. We identified 126 background AGNs and 25 foreground stars. One of the foreground stars is classified as a variable M dwarf. We also classified 14 X-ray sources as members of 47 Tuc, including 1 symbiotic stars, 2 quiescent low mass X-ray binaries, and 4 cataclysmic variable. There are also 5 X-ray sources, which can either be a cataclysmic variable or a contact binary, and also 1 X-ray sources which can be an active binary (Type RS CVn). We identified one X-ray binary, which belongs to the Small Magellanic Cloud. Moreover, we calculated the X-ray luminosity function of 47 Tuc. No significant population that seems to belong to the globular cluster has been observed in the energy range of 0.5-2.0 keV using eROSITA observations.

astro-ph.HE↗

Mitigating the effects of particle background on the Athena Wide-Field Imager

The Wide Field Imager (WFI) flying on Athena will usher in the next era of studying the hot and energetic Universe. WFI observations of faint, diffuse sources will be limited by uncertainty in the background produced by high-energy particles. These particles produce easily identified "cosmic-ray tracks" along with signals from secondary photons and electrons generated by particle interactions with the instrument. The signal from these secondaries is identical to the X-rays focused by the optics, and cannot be filtered without also eliminating these precious photons. As part of a larger effort to understand the WFI background, we here present results from a study of background-reduction techniques that exploit the spatial correlation between cosmic-ray particle tracks and secondary events. We use Geant4 simulations to generate a realistic particle background, sort this into simulated WFI frames, and process those frames in a similar way to the expected flight and ground software to produce a WFI observation containing only particle background. The technique under study, Self Anti-Coincidence or SAC, then selectively filters regions of the detector around particle tracks, turning the WFI into its own anti-coincidence detector. We show that SAC is effective at improving the systematic uncertainty for observations of faint, diffuse sources, but at the cost of statistical uncertainty due to a reduction in signal. If sufficient pixel pulse-height information is telemetered to the ground for each frame, then this technique can be applied selectively based on the science goals, providing flexibility without affecting the data quality for other science. The results presented here are relevant for any future silicon-based pixelated X-ray imaging detector, and could allow the WFI and similar instruments to probe to truly faint X-ray surface brightness.

astro-ph.IM↗

The eROSITA view of the Abell 3391/95 field: The Northern Clump. The largest infalling structure in the longest known gas filament observed with eROSITA, XMM-Newton, and Chandra

SRG/eROSITA PV observations revealed the A3391/95 cluster system and the Northern Clump (MCXC J0621.7-5242 galaxy cluster) are aligning along a cosmic filament in soft X-rays, similarly to what has been seen in simulations before. We aim to understand the dynamical state of the Northern Clump as it enters the atmosphere ($3\times R_{200}$) of A3391. We analyzed joint eROSITA, XMM-Newton, and Chandra observations to probe the morphological, thermal, and chemical properties of the Northern Clump from its center out to a radius of 988 kpc ($R_{200}$). We utilized the ASKAP/EMU radio data, DECam optical image, and Planck y-map to study the influence of the WAT radio source on the Northern Clump central ICM. From the Magneticum simulation, we identified an analog of the A3391/95 system along with an infalling group resembling the Northern Clump. The Northern Clump is a WCC cluster centered on a WAT radio galaxy. The gas temperature over $0.2-0.5R_{500}$ is $k_BT_{500}=1.99\pm0.04$ keV. We employed the $M-T$ scaling relation and obtained a mass estimate of $M_{500}=(7.68\pm0.43)\times10^{13}M_{\odot}$ and $R_{500}=(636\pm12)$ kpc. Its atmosphere has a boxy shape and deviates from spherical symmetry. We identify a southern surface brightness edge, likely caused by subsonic motion relative to the filament gas. At $\sim\! R_{500}$, the southern atmosphere appears to be 42% hotter than its northern atmosphere. We detect a downstream tail pointing toward the north with a projected length of $\sim318$ kpc, plausibly the result of ram pressure stripping. The analog group in the Magneticum simulation is experiencing changes in its gas properties and a shift between the position of the halo center and that of the bound gas while approaching the main cluster pair.

astro-ph.CO↗

The velocity structure of the intracluster medium during a major merger: simulated microcalorimeter observations

Major mergers between galaxy clusters can produce large turbulent and bulk flow velocities in the intra-cluster medium and thus imprint diagnostic features in X-ray spectral emission lines from heavy ions. As demonstrated by Hitomi in observations of the Perseus cluster, measurements of gas velocities in clusters from high-resolution X-ray spectra will be achievable with upcoming X-ray calorimeters like those on board XRISM, Athena, or a Lynx like mission. We investigate this possibility for interesting locations across a major cluster merger from a hydrodynamical simulation, via X-ray synthetic spectra with a few eV energy resolution. We observe the system from directions perpendicular to the plane of the merger and along the merger axis. In these extreme geometrical configurations, we find clear non-Gaussian shapes of the iron He-like K_alpha line at 6.7keV. The velocity dispersion predicted from the simulations can be retrieved for the brightest 100ks pointings with XRISM Resolve, despite some discrepancy related to the complex non-Gaussian line shapes. Measurements in faint regions require however high S/N and the larger collecting area of the Athena X-IFU calorimeter is thus needed. With the latter, we also investigate the gas temperature and velocity gradient across the merger bow shock edge, from 20"-wide annuli extracted from a single 1Ms X-IFU pointing. We find best-fit temperature and velocity dispersion values that are consistent with predictions from the simulations within 1-sigma, but the uncertainties on the inferred velocity dispersion are too large to place any stringent constraints on the shallow gradient downstream of the shock. We also present simulated images of the thermal and kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich effects, using the above viewing configurations, and compare the results at angular resolutions appropriate for future observatories such as CMB-S4 and AtLAST.

astro-ph.CO↗

The eROSITA Final Equatorial-Depth Survey (eFEDS): X-ray Observable-to-Mass-and-Redshift Relations of Galaxy Clusters and Groups with Weak-Lensing Mass Calibration from the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program Survey

We present the first weak-lensing mass calibration and X-ray scaling relations of galaxy clusters and groups selected in the $eROSITA$ Final Equatorial Depth Survey (eFEDS) observed by Spectrum Roentgen Gamma/$eROSITA$ over a contiguous footprint with an area of $\approx140$ deg$^2$, using the three-year (S19A) weak-lensing data from the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program survey. In this work, a sample of $434$ optically confirmed galaxy clusters (and groups) at redshift $0.01\lesssim z \lesssim1.3$ with a median of $0.35$ is studied, of which $313$ systems are uniformly covered by the HSC survey to enable the extraction of the weak-lensing shear observable. In a Bayesian population modelling, we perform a blind analysis for the weak-lensing mass calibration by simultaneously modelling the observed count rate $η$ and the shear profile $g$ of individual clusters through the count rate-to-mass-and-redshift ($η$--$M_{500}$--$z$) and weak-lensing mass-to-mass-and-redshift ($M_{\mathrm{WL}}$--$M_{500}$--$z$) relations, respectively, while accounting for the bias in these observables using simulation-based calibrations. As a result, the count rate-inferred and lensing-calibrated cluster mass is obtained from the joint modelling of the scaling relations, as the ensemble mass spanning a range of $10^{13}h^{-1}M_{\odot}\lesssim M_{500}\lesssim10^{15} h^{-1}M_{\odot}$ with a median of $\approx10^{14} h^{-1}M_{\odot}$ for the eFEDS sample. With the mass calibration, we further model the X-ray observable-to-mass-and-redshift relations, including the rest-frame soft-band and bolometric luminosity ($L_{\mathrm{X}}$ and $L_{\mathrm{b}}$), the emission-weighted temperature $T_{\mathrm{X}}$, the mass of intra-cluster medium $M_{\mathrm{g}}$, and the mass proxy $Y_{\mathrm{X}}$, which is the product of $T_{\mathrm{X}}$ and $M_{\mathrm{g}}$. (abridged)

astro-ph.CO↗

The eROSITA view of the Abell 3391/95 field: a case study from the Magneticum cosmological simulation

We investigated the origin and gas properties of a simulated galaxy cluster pair, to connect simulation predictions to the SRG/eROSITA X-ray observations of the Abell 3391/95 field. The simulated system has been extracted from the (352 cMpc/h)^3 volume of the Magneticum Pathfinder cosmological simulations at z=0.07. We tracked back in time the main progenitors of the pair clusters and surrounding groups to study the assembly history of the system and its evolution. Similarly to the observed A3391/95 system, the simulated pair is embedded in a complex network of gas filaments, with structures aligned over more than 20 projected Mpc and the whole region collapsing towards the central overdense node. The spheres of influence (3*R200) of the two main clusters already overlap at z=0.07, but their virial boundaries are still physically separated. The diffuse gas located in the interconnecting bridge closely reflects the WHIM, with typical temperature of ~1 keV and overdensity $\sim 100$, with respect to the mean baryon density of the Universe, and lower enrichment level compared to the ICM in clusters. We find that most of the bridge gas collapsed from directions roughly orthogonal to the intra-cluster gas accretion directions, and its origin is mostly unrelated to the two cluster progenitors. We find clear signatures in the surrounding groups of infall motion towards the pair, such as significant radial velocities and slowdown of gas compared to dark matter. These findings further support the picture of the Northern Clump (MCXC J0621.7-5242) cluster infalling along a cosmic gas filament towards Abell 3391, possibly merging with it. We conclude that, in such a configuration, the pair clusters of the A3391/95-like system are in a pre-merger phase, and did not interact yet. The diffuse gas in the interconnecting bridge is mostly warm filament gas, rather than tidally-stripped cluster gas.

astro-ph.CO↗

Full-sky photon simulation of clusters and active galactic nuclei in the soft X-rays for eROSITA

The eROSITA X-ray telescope on board the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) mission will measure the position and properties of about 100,000 clusters of galaxies and 3 million active galactic nuclei over the full sky. To study the statistical properties of this ongoing survey, it is key to estimate the selection function accurately. We create a set of full sky light-cones using the MultiDark and UNIT dark matter only N-body simulations. We present a novel method to predict the X-ray emission of galaxy clusters. Given a set of dark matter halo properties (mass, redshift, ellipticity, offset parameter), we construct an X-ray emissivity profile and image for each halo in the light-cone. We follow the eROSITA scanning strategy to produce a list of X-ray photons on the full sky. We predict scaling relations for the model clusters, which are in good agreement with the literature. The predicted number density of clusters as a function of flux also agrees with previous measurements. Finally, we obtain a scatter of 0.21 (0.07, 0.25) for the X-ray luminosity -- mass (temperature -- mass, luminosity -- temperature) model scaling relations. We provide catalogues with the model photons emitted by clusters and active galactic nuclei. These catalogues will aid the eROSITA end to end simulation flow analysis and in particular the source detection process and cataloguing methods.

astro-ph.CO↗

Reducing the Athena WFI charged particle background: Results from Geant4 simulations

One of the science goals of the Wide Field Imager (WFI) on ESA's Athena X-ray observatory is to map hot gas structures in the universe, such as clusters and groups of galaxies and the intergalactic medium. These deep observations of faint diffuse sources require low background and the best possible knowledge of that background. The WFI Background Working Group is approaching this problem from a variety of directions. Here we present analysis of Geant4 simulations of cosmic ray particles interacting with the structures aboard Athena, producing signal in the WFI. We search for phenomenological correlations between these particle tracks and detected events that would otherwise be categorized as X-rays, and explore ways to exploit these correlations to flag or reject such events in ground processing. In addition to reducing the Athena WFI instrumental background, these results are applicable to understanding the particle component in any silicon-based X-ray detector in space.

astro-ph.IM↗

Probing the Milky Way's Dark Matter Halo for the 3.5 keV Line

We present a comprehensive search for the 3.5 keV line, using $\sim$51 Ms of archival Chandra observations peering through the Milky Way's Dark Matter Halo from across the entirety of the sky, gathered via the Chandra Source Catalog Release 2.0. We consider the data's radial distribution, organizing observations into four data subsets based on angular distance from the Galactic Center. All data is modeled using both background-subtracted and background-modeled approaches to account for the particle instrument background, demonstrating statistical limitations of the currently-available $\sim$1 Ms of particle background data. A non-detection is reported in the total data set, allowing us to set an upper-limit on 3.5 keV line flux and constrain the sterile neutrino dark matter mixing angle. The upper-limit on sin$^2$(2$θ$) is $2.58 \times 10^{-11}$ (though systematic uncertainty may increase this by a factor of $\sim$2), corresponding to the upper-limit on 3.5 keV line flux of $2.34 \times 10^{-7}$ ph s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$. These limits show consistency with recent constraints and several prior detections. Non-detections are reported in all radial data subsets, allowing us to constrain the spatial profile of 3.5 keV line intensity, which does not conclusively differ from Navarro-Frenk-White predictions. Thus, while offering heavy constraints, we do not entirely rule out the sterile neutrino dark matter scenario or the more general decaying dark matter hypothesis for the 3.5 keV line. We have also used the non-detection of any unidentified emission lines across our continuum to further constrain the sterile neutrino parameter space.

astro-ph.HE↗

Characterisation of the Particle-Induced Background of XMM-Newton EPIC-pn: Short and Long Term Variability

The particle-induced background of X-ray observatories is produced by Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) primary protons, electrons, and He ions. Events due to direct interaction with the detector are usually removed by on board processing. The interactions of these primary particles with the detector environment produce secondary particles that mimic X-ray events from celestial sources and are much more difficult to identify. The filter wheel closed data from the XMM-Newton EPIC-pn camera in small window mode (SWM) contains both the X-ray-like background events and the events due to direct interactions with the primary particles. From this data we demonstrate that X-ray-like background events are spatially correlated with the primary particle interaction. This result can be used to further characterise and reduce the non-X-ray background in silicon-based X-ray detectors in current and future missions. We also show that spectrum and pattern fractions of secondary particle events are different from those produced by cosmic X-rays.

astro-ph.HE↗

Pressure profiles and mass estimates using high-resolution Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect observations of Zwicky 3146 with MUSTANG-2

The galaxy cluster Zwicky 3146 is a sloshing cool core cluster at $z=0.291$ that in X-ray imaging does not appear to exhibit significant pressure substructure in the intracluster medium (ICM). The published $M_{500}$ values range between $3.88^{+0.62}_{-0.58}$ to $22.50 \pm 7.58 \times 10^{14}$ M$_{\odot}$, where ICM-based estimates with reported errors $<20$\% suggest that we should expect to find a mass between $6.53^{+0.44}_{-0.44} \times 10^{14}$ M$_{\odot}$ (from Planck, with an $8.4σ$ detection) and $8.52^{+1.77}_{-1.47} \times 10^{14}$ M$_{\odot}$ (from ACT, with a $14σ$ detection). This broad range of masses is suggestive that there is ample room for improvement for all methods. Here, we investigate the ability to estimate the mass of Zwicky 3146 via the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect with data taken at 90 GHz by MUSTANG-2 to a noise level better than $15\ μ$K at the center, and a cluster detection of $104σ$. We derive a pressure profile from our SZ data which is in excellent agreement with that derived from X-ray data. From our SZ-derived pressure profiles, we infer $M_{500}$ and $M_{2500}$ via three methods -- $Y$-$M$ scaling relations, the virial theorem, and hydrostatic equilibrium -- where we employ X-ray constraints from \emph{XMM-Newton} on the electron density profile when assuming hydrostatic equilibrium. Depending on the model and estimation method, our $M_{500}$ estimates range from $6.23 \pm 0.59$ to $10.6 \pm 0.95 \times 10^{14}$ M$_{\odot}$, where our estimate from hydrostatic equilibrium, is $8.29^{+1.93}_{-1.24}$ ($\pm 19.1$\% stat) ${}^{+0.74}_{-0.68}$ ($\pm 8.6$\% sys, calibration) $\times 10^{14}$ M$_{\odot}$. Our fiducial mass, derived from a $Y$-$M$ relation is $8.16^{+0.44}_{-0.54}$ ($\pm 5.5$\% stat) ${}^{+0.46}_{-0.43}$ ($\pm 5.5$\% sys, $Y$-$M$) ${}^{+0.59}_{-0.55}$ ($\pm 7.0$\% sys, cal.) $\times 10^{14}$ M$_{\odot}$.

astro-ph.CO↗

Probing the Fundamental Nature of Dark Matter with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

Astrophysical and cosmological observations currently provide the only robust, empirical measurements of dark matter. Future observations with Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will provide necessary guidance for the experimental dark matter program. This white paper represents a community effort to summarize the science case for studying the fundamental physics of dark matter with LSST. We discuss how LSST will inform our understanding of the fundamental properties of dark matter, such as particle mass, self-interaction strength, non-gravitational couplings to the Standard Model, and compact object abundances. Additionally, we discuss the ways that LSST will complement other experiments to strengthen our understanding of the fundamental characteristics of dark matter. More information on the LSST dark matter effort can be found at https://lsstdarkmatter.github.io/ .

astro-ph.CO↗

Physics of cosmic plasmas from high angular resolution X-ray imaging of galaxy clusters

Galaxy clusters are massive dark matter-dominated systems filled with X-ray emitting, optically thin plasma. Their large size and relative simplicity (at least as astrophysical objects go) make them a unique laboratory to measure some of the interesting plasma properties that are inaccessible by other means but fundamentally important for understanding and modeling many astrophysical phenomena -- from solar flares to black hole accretion to galaxy formation and the emergence of the cosmological Large Scale Structure. While every cluster astrophysicist is eagerly anticipating the direct gas velocity measurements from the forthcoming microcalorimeters onboard XRISM, Athena and future missions such as Lynx, a number of those plasma properties can best be probed by high-resolution X-ray imaging of galaxy clusters. Chandra has obtained some trailblazing results, but only grazed the surface of such studies. In this white paper, we discuss why we need arcsecond-resolution, high collecting area, low relative background X-ray imagers (with modest spectral resolution), such as the proposed AXIS and the imaging detector of Lynx.

astro-ph.HE↗

Probing Macro-Scale Gas Motions and Turbulence in Diffuse Cosmic Plasmas

Clusters of galaxies, the largest collapsed structures in the Universe, are located at the intersection of extended filaments of baryons and dark matter. Cosmological accretion onto clusters through large scale filaments adds material at cluster outskirts. Kinetic energy in the form of bulk motions and turbulence due to this accretion provides a form of pressure support against gravity, supplemental to thermal pressure. Significant amount of non-thermal pressure support could bias cluster masses derived assuming hydrostatic equilibrium, the primary proxy for cluster cosmology studies. Sensitive measurements of Doppler broadening and shift of astrophysical lines, and the relative fluctuations in thermodynamical quantities (e.g., density, pressure, and entropy) are primary diagnostic tools. Forthcoming planned and proposed X-ray (with large etendue, throughput, and high spectral resolution) and SZ observatories will provide crucial information on the assembly and virialisation processes of clusters, involving turbulent eddies cascading at various spatial scales and larger gas bulk motions in their external regions to the depth or their potential wells.

astro-ph.CO↗

Dark Matter Science in the Era of LSST

Astrophysical observations currently provide the only robust, empirical measurements of dark matter. In the coming decade, astrophysical observations will guide other experimental efforts, while simultaneously probing unique regions of dark matter parameter space. This white paper summarizes astrophysical observations that can constrain the fundamental physics of dark matter in the era of LSST. We describe how astrophysical observations will inform our understanding of the fundamental properties of dark matter, such as particle mass, self-interaction strength, non-gravitational interactions with the Standard Model, and compact object abundances. Additionally, we highlight theoretical work and experimental/observational facilities that will complement LSST to strengthen our understanding of the fundamental characteristics of dark matter.

astro-ph.CO↗