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P. Colin

Publications and source records attributed to P. Colin.

154 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
arXiv2003

The effects of Non-Gaussian initial conditions on the structure and substructure of Cold Dark Matter halos

We study the structure and substructure of halos obtained in N-body simulations for a Lambda Cold Dark Matter (LCDM) cosmology with non-Gaussian initial conditions (NGICs). The initial statistics are lognormal in the gravitational potential field with positive (LNp) and negative (LNn) skewness; the sign of the skewness is conserved by the density field, and the power spectrum is the same for all the simulations. Our aim is not to test a given non-Gaussian statistics, but to explore the generic effect of positive- and negative-skew statistics on halo properties. From our low-resolution simulations, we find that LNp (LNn) halos are systematically more (less) concentrated than their Gaussian counterparts. This result is confirmed by our Milky Way- and cluster-sized halos resimulated with high-resolution. In addition, they show inner density profiles that depend on the statistics: the innermost slopes of LNp (LNn) halos are steeper (shallower) than those obtained from the corresponding Gaussian halos. A subhalo population embedded in LNp halos is more susceptible to destruction than its counterpart inside Gaussian halos. On the other hand, subhalos in LNn halos tend to survive longer than subhalos in Gaussian halos. The spin parameter probability distribution of LNp (LNn) halos is skewed to smaller (larger) values with respect to the Gaussian case. Our results show how the statistics of the primordial density field can influence some halo properties, opening this the possibility to constrain, although indirectly, the primordial statistics at small scale.

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arXiv2003

The structure of halos in Self-Interacting Cold Dark Matter models

High-resolution numerical simulations were performed to study the structure and substructure of Milky Way- and cluster-sized halos in a LCDM cosmology with self-interacting (SI) dark particles, where the particle cross section, +AFw-sig, is assumed constant or inversely proportional to the relative velocity. We conclude that the cuspy halo problem at galaxy scales of the LCDM cosmogony can be solved in the latter case. In this case, the inner density of galaxy-cluster halos is only slightly affected by the SI, resulting in agreement with observational constraints. At the same time, the subhalo population in galaxy and cluster SI-CDM halos remains roughly similar to that seen on collisionless CDM halos.

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arXiv2002

Structure and Subhalo Population of Halos in a Self-Interacting Dark Matter Cosmology

We study the structure of Milky Way (MW)- and cluster-sized halos in a Lambda Cold Dark Matter (CDM) cosmology with self-interacting (SI) dark particles. The cross section per unit of particle mass has the form sigma = sig_0(1/v_100)^alpha, where sig_0 is a constant in units of cm^2/gr and v_100 is the relative velocity in units of 100 km/s. Different values for sigma with alpha= 0 or 1 were used. For small values of sigma = const. (sig_0<0.5), the core density of the halos at z=0 is typically higher at a given mass for lower values of sig_0 or, at a given sig_0, for lower masses. For values of sig_0 as high as 3.0, the halos may undergo the gravothermal catastrophe before z=0. When alpha = 1, the core density of cluster- and MW-sized halos is similar. Using sigma = 0.5-1.0x(1/v_100), our predictions agree with the central densities and the core scaling laws of halos both inferred from the observations of dwarf and LSB galaxies and clusters of galaxies. The cumulative Vmax-functions of subhalos in MW-sized halos with (sig_0,alpha) = (0.1,0.0), (0.5,0.0) and (0.5,1.0) agree roughly with observations (luminous satellites) for Vmax > 30 km/s, while at Vmax = 20 km/s the functions are a factor 5-8 higher, similar to the CDM predictions. The halos with SI have slightly more specific angular momentum at a given mass shell and are rounder than their CDM counterparts. We conclude that the introduction of SI particles with sigma \propto 1/v_100 may remedy the cuspy core problem of the CDM cosmogony, while the subhalo population number remains similar to that of the CDM halos.

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arXiv2001

Formation and structure of halos in a warm dark matter cosmology

(Abridged) Using high-resolution cosmological N-body simulations, we study how the density profiles of dark matter halos are affected by the filtering of the density power spectrum below a given scale length and by the introduction of a thermal velocity dispersion. In the warm dark matter (WDM) scenario, both the free-streaming scale, R_f, and the velocity dispersion, v_w, are determined by the mass m_w of the WDM particle. We find that v_w is too small to affect the density profiles of WDM halos. Down to the resolution attained in our simulations, there is not any significant difference in the density profiles and concentrations of halos obtained in simulations with and without the inclusion of v_w. The density profiles of halos with masses down to ~0.01 the filtering mass M_f can be described by the NFW shape; significant soft cores are not formed. Nevertheless, the concentrations of these halos are lower than those of the CDM counterparts and are approximately independent of mass. The lower concentrations of WDM halos with respect to their CDM counterparts can be accounted for their late formation epoch. Overall, our results point to a series of advantages of a WDM model over the CDM one. In addition to solving the substructure problem, a WDM model with R_f~0.16 Mpc (m_w~0.75 kev; flat cosmology with Omega_L=h=0.7) also predicts concentrations, a Tully-Fisher relation, and formation epochs for small halos which seems to be in better agreement with observations, relative to CDM predictions.

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arXiv2000

Substructure and halo density profiles in a Warm Dark Matter Cosmology

We performed a series of high-resolution simulations designed to study the substructure of Milky Way-size galactic halos (host halos) and the density profiles of halos in a warm dark matter (WDM) scenario with a non-vanishing cosmological constant. The virial masses of the host halos range from 3.5 x 10^12 to 1.7 x 10^12 solar masses and they have more than 10^5 particles each. A key feature of the WDM power spectrum is the free-streaming length R_f which fixes an additional parameter for the model of structure formation. We analyze the substructure of host halos using three R_f values: 0.2, 0.1, and 0.05 Mpc and compare results to the predictions of the cold dark matter (CDM) model. We find that guest halos (satellites) do form in the WDM scenario but are more easily destroyed by dynamical friction and tidal disruption than their counterparts in a CDM model. The small number of guest halos that we find within the virial radii of host halos at z = 0 in the WDM models is the result of a less efficient halo accretion and a higher satellite destruction rate. Under the assumption that each guest halo hosts a luminous galaxy, we find that the observed circular velocity function of satellites around the Milky Way and Andromeda is well described by the R_f = 0.1 Mpc WDM model. In the R_f = 0.1-0.2 Mpc models, the surviving subhalos at z=0 have an average concentration parameter c_1/5 which is approximately twice smaller than that of the corresponding CDM subhalos. This difference, very likely, produces the higher satellite destruction rate found in the WDM models. The density profile of host halos is well described by the NFW fit whereas guest halos show a wide variety of density profiles (abridged).

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arXiv1999

Release of data from high-resolution cosmological N-body simulations

We make available to the public 4 dark matter simulations that cover 4 CDM cosmological models and were run with the AP^3M code (Couchamn 1991). These simulations are described in Colin et al. (ApJ, 523, 32, 1999). There are about 20 epochs available per model. They were run in a 30 Mpc/h box and have 128^3 particles in a 128^3 mesh. To download the binary data please contact me at: colin@astroscu.unam.mx

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arXiv1998

Dark Matter and the Chemical Evolution of Irregular Galaxies

We present three types of chemical evolution models for irregular galaxies: closed-box with continuous star formation rates (SFRs), closed-box with bursting SFRs, and O-rich outflow with continuous SFRs. We discuss the chemical evolution of the irregular galaxies NGC 1560 and II Zw 33, and a ``typical'' irregular galaxy. The fraction of low-mass stars needed by our models is larger than that derived for the solar vicinity, but similar to that found in globular clusters. For our typical irregular galaxy we need a mass fraction of about 40% in the form of substellar objects plus non baryonic dark matter inside the Holmberg radius, in good agreement with the results derived for NGC 1560 and II Zw 33 where we do have an independent estimate of the mass fraction in non baryonic dark matter. Closed-box models are better than O-rich outflow models in explaining the C/O and Z/O observed values for our typical irregular galaxy.

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arXiv1997

The Omega Dependence of the Evolution of xi(r)

The evolution of the two-point correlation function, xi(r,z), and the pairwise velocity dispersion, sigma(r,z), for both the matter and halo population, in three different cosmological models: (Omega_M,Omega_Lambda)=(1,0), (0.2,0) and (0.2,0.8) are described. If the evolution of xi is parameterized by xi(r,z)=(1+z)^{-(3+eps)}xi(r,0), where xi(r,0)=(r/r_0)^{-gamma}, then eps(mass) ranges from 1.04 +/- 0.09 for (1,0) to 0.18 +/- 0.12 for (0.2,0), as measured by the evolution of at 1 Mpc (from z ~ 5 to the present epoch). For halos, eps depends on their mean overdensity. Halos with a mean overdensity of about 2000 were used to compute the halo two-point correlation function tested with two different group finding algorithms: the friends of friends and the spherical overdensity algorithm. It is certainly believed that the rate of growth of this xihh will give a good estimate of the evolution of the galaxy two-point correlation function, at least from z ~ 1 to the present epoch. The values we get for eps(halos) range from 1.54 for (1,0) to -0.36 for (0.2,0), as measured by the evolution of xi(halos) from z ~ 1.0 to the present epoch. These values could be used to constrain the cosmological scenario. The evolution of the pairwise velocity dispersion for the mass and halo distribution is measured and compared with the evolution predicted by the Cosmic Virial Theorem (CVT). According to the CVT, sigma(r,z)^2 ~ G Q rho(z) r^2 xi(r,z) or sigma proportional to (1+z)^{-eps/2}. The values of eps measured from our simulated velocities differ from those given by the evolution of xi and the CVT, keeping gamma and Q constant: eps(CVT) = 1.78 +/- 0.13 for (1,0) or 1.40 +/- 0.28 for (0.2,0).

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arXiv1994

Chemical Evolution of Irregular and Blue Compact Galaxies

We discuss the chemical evolution of metal poor galaxies and conclude that their oxygen deficiency is not due to: the production of black holes by massive stars or a varying slope of the Initial Mass Function, IMF, at the high-mass end. A varying IMF at the low-mass end alone or in combination with: (a) an outflow of oxygen-rich material, (b) an outflow of well-mixed material, and (c) the presence of dark matter that does not participate in the chemical evolution process, is needed to explain their oxygen deficiency. Outflow of material rich in oxygen helps to account for the large helium to oxygen mass ratio values derived from these objects, but it works against explaining the carbon to oxygen mass ratio and the heavy elements minus carbon and oxygen to oxygen mass ratio values.

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