arXiv subjects

Philip Mocz

Publications and source records attributed to Philip Mocz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Custom Colors: A Module for Computing Synthetic Photometry On-the-Fly in Stellar Evolution Calculations, Integrated with MESA and Usable with Other Stellar Evolution Codes

Stellar evolution simulations predict physical quantities such as luminosity, whereas broadband photometric observations measure flux in specific bandpasses; converting the predicted stellar state to magnitudes requires interpolating a stellar atmosphere model at the surface parameters, convolving the resulting spectral energy distribution (SED) with filter transmission curves, and applying a photometric zero-point correction. We introduce Custom Colors, which performs this conversion from the stellar model. It is integrated into MESA as MESA Custom Colors, and available as the Python package SED_Model for external applications. At each timestep, the module interpolates a user-specified atmosphere grid at the current T_eff, log g, [M/H], applies geometric dilution at a user-specified distance, convolves the SED with each requested filter transmission curve, and appends observer-frame magnitudes to standard MESA output files. We demonstrate the module across six diverse use cases: TP-AGB evolution, nonlinear RR Lyrae pulsation, starspot-modified photospheres, white dwarf cooling, blue-loop evolution, and rotational spot modulation based on an external YREC SPOTS grid. These cases draw on Kurucz/ATLAS9, BT-Settl, and Koester DA atmosphere grids and filter systems including Roman WFI, LSST ugrizy, Gaia, and extended Johnson UBVRIJHKLMN. Two of these demonstrations compare the module directly with observational data: a 0.6M_dot DA white dwarf cooling track follows the broad Gaia DR3 cooling locus from M_G ~ 8.5 to 15mag without intermediate color transformation, and an RSP model recovers the Kepler light curve of FN Lyr (KIC6936115) to 1.1% in period and 0.2% in amplitude.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

Variability in Supermassive Black-Hole Accretion Rates in Fuzzy Dark Matter Cores due to Black-Hole Wandering

Soliton cores in fuzzy dark matter (FDM) deepen nuclear potentials and have been proposed to strongly boost Bondi accretion, potentially aiding rapid black-hole growth at high redshift. We test this in live Schrodinger-Poisson FDM cores coupled to isothermal gas, evolving a moving black hole that grows via a strictly mass-conserving sink. We measure boosts relative to the initial mean-density Bondi rate. Low-mass seeds, with initial black-hole masses less than about 10^6 solar masses, do not sustain large boosts: black-hole wandering and soliton sloshing drive bursty accretion, with dense gas only intermittently present near the black hole. Intermediate seeds, with initial black-hole masses around 10^7 solar masses, produce the most durable enhancement, reaching boosts of order 100 for sound speed cs = 60 km/s, while hotter gas approaches near-background Bondi rates. High-mass seeds, with initial black-hole masses around 10^8 solar masses, quickly exhaust the sink-scale reservoir and become supply-limited, suppressing long-lived growth despite the deepened potential. In general, central-potential deepening, for example by a soliton halo, does not guarantee long-lived fueling: sustained boosts emerge only when the black hole remains dynamically confined within the dense nuclear gas region. Our results suggest that SMBH formation channels relying on soliton-enhanced accretion alone are unlikely to provide sufficient early growth.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2026

Self-Consistent Nonlinear Classical Cepheid Pulsations During Stellar Evolution with MESA

We extend the time-dependent convection treatment in \code{MESA} by introducing eddy-viscous damping. This software change brings \code{MESA-TDC} into closer alignment with the radial stellar pulsation framework of \code{MESA-RSP}. We demonstrate that the inclusion of the eddy viscosity in hydrodynamic stellar models remains stable on evolutionary timescales. We then present the first self-consistent integration of large-amplitude, nonlinear Classical Cepheid pulsations directly within a \code{MESA-star} evolutionary run, demonstrating that the time-dependent convection formalism implemented in \code{MESA-star} and the \code{MESA} radial stellar pulsation (RSP) module are physically identical. Starting from a 6~\Msun\ blue-loop stellar evolution model, we demonstrate evolving the entire stellar model through pulsations as well as pausing the evolution, excising the core, and remeshing the envelope to match the grid used by \code{MESA-RSP}. We compare the pulsation properties (e.g., period, light and radius curves, and growth rate) with a matched \code{MESA-RSP} run, and find reasonable agreement between the two modules. This unified approach eliminates the reliance on separate post-processing workflows and enables fully coupled evolution-pulsation simulations. This approach enables future studies of stellar pulsations with the inclusion of composition gradients, mass loss, or rotation. It also enables future studies of the $\epsilon$ mechanism as well as providing a physical source of viscosity for other science cases explored using \code{MESA}'s hydrodynamics solver. We have integrated these modifications into the \code{MESA-star} module, enabling open-source use by the community.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Development of Turbulence in Post-shock Regions

Supersonic isothermal turbulence is ubiquitous in the interstellar medium. This work presents high-resolution AREPO hydrodynamical simulations of isolated shocks moving through supersonic turbulence to study the development and evolution of turbulence in the pre- and post-shock regions. We find that shocks can amplify turbulent energy in the post-shock region while inducing a preferential orientation for the vorticity. This results in the creation of anisotropic turbulence in the post-shock region. Turbulent energy and dissipation are also strongly enhanced near the shock front. By applying typical scalings from the cold neutral medium to simulations, we find that shocks moving into turbulence on the scale of superbubbles can generate compressive flows on the order of $10^{3} M_{\odot}$/Myr. Our results also show good agreement with related studies on turbulent fluctuations generated by shocks in pure fluid mechanics.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Validation of FLASH for magnetically driven inertial confinement fusion target design

FLASH is a widely available radiation magnetohydrodynamics code used for astrophysics, laboratory plasma science, high energy density physics, and inertial confinement fusion. Increasing interest in magnetically driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF), including Pacific Fusion's development of a 60 MA Demonstration System designed to achieve facility gain, motivates the improvement and validation of FLASH for modeling magnetically driven ICF concepts, such as MagLIF, at ignition scale. Here we present a collection of six validation benchmarks from experiments at the Z Pulsed Power Facility and theoretical and simulation studies of scaling MagLIF to high currents. The benchmarks range in complexity from focused experiments of linear hydrodynamic instabilities to fully integrated MagLIF fusion experiments. With the latest addition of physics capabilities, FLASH now obtains good agreement with the experimental data, theoretical results, and leading ICF target design simulation code results across all six benchmarks. These results establish confidence in FLASH as a useful tool for designing magnetically driven ICF targets on facilities like Z and Pacific Fusion's upcoming Demonstration System.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

Tracing 3-D Magnetic Field Structure Using Dust Polarization and the Zeeman Effect

The characterization of magnetic fields within molecular clouds is fundamental to understanding star formation processes. Accurately gauging the three-dimensional structure of these fields presents a challenge, as observational techniques such as dust polarization and the Zeeman effect each provide only partial information on the orientation and line-of-sight strength, respectively. By analyzing a suite of AREPO simulations, this paper investigates how observables can relate to underlying physical properties to derive a more comprehensive picture of the magnetic field's inclination angle and strength, specifically in regions where both dust polarization and Zeeman data are available. To demonstrate the method, we produce synthetic observations of the polarization angle dispersion and line-of-sight Alfv\'en Mach Number and explore the behavior of the inclination angle, $\gamma$, and strength of the magnetic field in regions where both Zeeman and dust polarization data are available. We find that dust polarization data can be used to determine the inclination angle if the cloud is known to be trans-Alfv\'enic or sub-Alfv\'enic. The strength of the magnetic field relative to turbulence can be estimated by comparing polarization observations to Zeeman observations. Comparing the dispersion of the polarization angle to the estimated line-of-sight Alfv\'en Mach Number provides clues about the strength of the magnetic field and, consequently, the orientation of the magnetic field.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Diverse dark matter haloes in Two-field Fuzzy Dark Matter

Fuzzy dark matter (FDM) is a compelling candidate for dark matter, offering a natural explanation for the structure of diffuse low-mass haloes. However, the canonical FDM model with a mass of $10^{-22}~{\rm eV}$ encounters challenges in reproducing the observed diversity of dwarf galaxies, except for possibly scenarios where strong galactic feedback is invoked. The introduction of multiple-field FDM can provide a potential resolution to this diversity issue. The theoretical plausibility of this dark matter model is also enhanced by the fact that multiple axion species with logarithmically-distributed mass spectrum exist as a generic prediction of string theory. In this paper, we consider the axiverse hypothesis and investigate non-linear structure formation in the two-field fuzzy dark matter (2FDM) model. Our cosmological simulation with an unprecedented resolution and self-consistent initial conditions reveals the diverse structures of dark matter haloes in the 2FDM model for the first time. Depending on the formation time and local tidal activities, late-time haloes can host solitons of nested cores or solitons of one dominant species.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

A smooth filament origin for distant prolate galaxies seen by JWST and HST

The initial gravitational collapse of Dark Matter and gas forms a universal filamentary network where the first galaxies form, with shapes and sizes that depend on the choice of Dark Matter. Claims from deep space imaging surveys that elongated galaxies predominate at $z > 3$ are examined here by comparison with detailed hydrodynamical simulations of Cold Dark Matter (CDM), Warm Dark Matter (WDM), and Wave/Fuzzy Dark Matter, $\psi$DM. For CDM and WDM we have sufficient volume, $10^{3}\,\mathrm{Mpc/h}^{3}$, to generate galaxies with stellar masses $> 10^{9}\,M_{\odot}$ at $z > 2$, allowing comparison with the CEERS and CANDELS surveys. We find the observed tendency towards elongated, prolate-shaped young galaxies is well matched by WDM, from material accreted along smooth filaments during the first $\simeq 500\,\mathrm{Myr}$, with little dependence on stellar mass. This contrasts with CDM, where the stellar morphology is mainly spheroidal, formed from merging of fragmented filaments. For CDM, several subhalos are predicted to be visible, whereas for WDM and $\psi$DM, early merging is rare. Our findings show how the shapes and sizes of early galaxies are sensitive to the smoothness of the underlying filament network, providing a new constraint on the nature of dark matter.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Dwarf Galaxies United by Dark Bosons

Low mass galaxies in the Local Group are dominated by dark matter and comprise the well studied ``dwarf Spheroidal" (dSph) class, with typical masses of $10^{9-10}M_\odot$ and also the equally numerous ``ultra faint dwarfs" (UFD), discovered recently, that are distinctly smaller and denser with masses of only $10^{7-8}M_\odot$. This bimodality amongst low mass galaxies contrasts with the scale free continuity expected for galaxies formed under gravity, as in the standard Cold Dark Matter (CDM) model for heavy particles. Within each dwarf class we find the core radius $R_c$ is inversely related to velocity dispersion $σ$, quite the opposite of standard expectations, but indicative of dark matter in a Bose-Einstein state, where the Uncertainty Principle requires $R_c \times σ$ is fixed by Planks constant, $h$. The corresponding boson mass, $m_b=h/R_c σ$, differs by one order of magnitude between the UDF and dSph classes, with $10^{-21.4}$eV and $10^{-20.3}$eV respectively. Two boson species is reinforced by parallel relations seen between the central density and radius of UDF and dSph dwarfs respectively, each matching the steep prediction, $ρ_c \propto R_c^{-4}$, for soliton cores in the ground state. Furthermore, soliton cores accurately fit the stellar profiles of UDF and dSph dwarfs where prominent, dense cores appear surrounded by low density halos, as predicted by our simulations. Multiple bosons may point to a String Theory interpretation for dark matter, where a discrete mass spectrum of axions is generically predicted to span many decades in mass, offering a unifying "Axiverse" interpretation for the observed "diversity" of dark matter dominated dwarf galaxies.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

An attractive model: simulating fuzzy dark matter with attractive self-interactions

Fuzzy Dark Matter (FDM) comprised of ultralight ($m \sim 10^{-22}~\rm{eV}$) boson particles has received significant attention as a viable alternative to Cold Dark Matter (CDM), as it approximates CDM on large scales ($\gtrsim 1$ Mpc) while potentially resolving some of its small-scale problems via kiloparsec-scale quantum interference. However, the most basic FDM model, with one free parameter (the boson mass), is subject to a tension: small boson masses yield the desired cores of dwarf galaxies but underpredict structure in the Lyman-$α$ forest, while large boson masses render FDM effectively identical to CDM. This Catch-22 problem may be alleviated by considering an axion-like particle with attractive particle self-interactions. We simulate an idealized FDM halo with self-interactions parameterized by an energy decay constant $f \sim 10^{15}~\rm{GeV}$ related to the axion symmetry-breaking conjectured to solve the strong-CP problem in particle physics. We observe solitons, a hallmark of FDM, condensing within a broader halo envelope, and find that the density profile and soliton mass depend on self-interaction strength. We propose generalized formulae to extend those from previous works to include self-interactions. We also investigate a critical mass threshold predicted for strong interactions at which the soliton collapses into a compact, unresolved state. We find that the collapse happens quickly and its effects are initially contained to the central region of the halo.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

Nested solitons in two-field fuzzy dark matter

Dark matter as scalar particles consisting of multiple species is well motivated in string theory where axion fields are ubiquitous. A two-field fuzzy dark matter (FDM) model features two species of ultralight axion particles with different masses, $m_1 \neq m_2$, which is extended from the standard one-field model with $m_a \sim 10^{-22}\,{\rm eV}$. Here we perform numerical simulations to explore the properties of two-field FDM haloes. We find that the central soliton has a nested structure when $m_2 \gg m_1$, which is distinguishable from the generic flat-core soliton in one-field haloes. However, the formation of this nested soliton is subject to many factors, including the density fraction and mass ratio of the two fields. Finally, we study non-linear structure formation in two-field cosmological simulations with self-consistent initial conditions and find that the small-scale structure in two-field cosmology is also distinct from the one-field model in terms of DM halo counts and soliton formation time.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Galaxy formation with wave/fuzzy dark matter: The core-halo structure and the solitonic imprint

Dark matter-dominated cores have long been claimed for the well-studied local group dwarf galaxies. More recently, extended stellar halos have been uncovered around several of these dwarfs through deeper imaging and spectroscopy. Such core-halo structures are not a feature of conventional cold dark matter (CDM). In contrast, smooth and prominent dark matter cores are predicted for wave/fuzzy dark matter ($\psi$DM). The question arises as to what extent the visible stellar profiles should reflect this dark matter core structure. Here we compare cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of CDM, ``WDM'' (model used as a proxy for $\psi$DM) \& $\psi$DM, aiming to predict the stellar profiles for these three DM scenarios. We show that cores surrounded by extended halos are distinguishable for $\psi$DM, where the stellar density is enhanced in the core due to the presence of the relatively dense soliton. Our analysis demonstrates that, in our simulations, a distinctive core-halo structure does not appear in the case of CDM in the DM, gas, or stars. Whereas we do find a core-halo transition for DM, gas, and stars for $\psi$DM, and the scale of this transition is in line with the predicted core radius set by the soliton scale anticipated for the adopted boson mass of 2.5$\times10^{-22}$eV. The presence of a core-halo structure in the stellar profile for Galaxy 1 for $\psi$DM is visible for the most massive and the first galaxy to form in the simulation. Clearly, further simulations are needed to establish how strict this possible relationship is between the DM and stellar core-halo profile as a potential observational discriminator. Furthermore, we observe the anticipated asymmetry for $\psi$DM due to the soliton's motion (jumping and random walk), a distinctive characteristic not found in the symmetric distributions of stars in the warm and CDM models.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Structure, Kinematics, and Observability of the Large Magellanic Cloud's Dynamical Friction Wake in Cold vs. Fuzzy Dark Matter

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) will induce a dynamical friction (DF) wake on infall to the Milky Way (MW). The MW's stellar halo will respond to the gravity of the LMC and the dark matter (DM) wake, forming a stellar counterpart to the DM wake. This provides a novel opportunity to constrain the properties of the DM particle. We present a suite of high-resolution, windtunnel-style simulations of the LMC's DF wake that compare the structure, kinematics, and stellar tracer response of the DM wake in cold DM (CDM), with and without self-gravity, vs. fuzzy DM (FDM) with $m_a = 10^{-23}$ eV. We conclude that the self-gravity of the DM wake cannot be ignored. Its inclusion raises the wake's density by $\sim 10\%$, and holds the wake together over larger distances ($\sim$ 50 kpc) than if self-gravity is ignored. The DM wake's mass is comparable to the LMC's infall mass, meaning the DM wake is a significant perturber to the dynamics of MW halo tracers. An FDM wake is more granular in structure and is $\sim 20\%$ dynamically colder than a CDM wake, but with comparable density. The granularity of an FDM wake increases the stars' kinematic response at the percent level compared to CDM, providing a possible avenue of distinguishing a CDM vs. FDM wake. This underscores the need for kinematic measurements of stars in the stellar halo at distances of 70-100 kpc.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Cosmic Web Dissection in Fuzzy Dark Matter Cosmologies

On large cosmological scales, anisotropic gravitational collapse is manifest in the dark cosmic web. Its statistical properties are little known for alternative dark matter models such as fuzzy dark matter (FDM). In this work, we assess for the first time the relative importance of cosmic nodes, filaments, walls and voids in a cosmology with primordial small-scale suppression of power. We post-process $N$-body simulations of FDM-like cosmologies with varying axion mass $m$ at redshifts $z\sim 1.0-5.6$ using the NEXUS+ Multiscale Morphology Filter technique at smoothing scale $Δx = 0.04 \ h^{-1}$Mpc. The formation of wall and void halos is more suppressed than naively expected from the half-mode mass $M_{1/2}$. Also, we quantify the mass and volume filling fraction of cosmic environments and find that 2D cosmic sheets host a larger share of the matter content of the Universe as $m$ is reduced, with an $\sim 8-12$\% increase for the $m=7 \times 10^{-22}$ eV model compared to CDM. We show that in FDM-like cosmologies, filaments, walls and voids are cleaner and more pronounced structures than in CDM, revealed by a strong mid-range peak in the conditioned overdensity PDFs $P(δ)$. At high redshift, low-density regions are more suppressed than high-density regions. Furthermore, skewness estimates $S_3$ of the total overdensity PDF in FDM-like cosmologies are consistently higher than in CDM, especially at high redshift $z\sim 5.6$ where the $m=10^{-22}$ eV model differs from CDM by $\sim 6 σ$. Accordingly, we advocate for the usage of $P(δ)$ as a testbed for constraining FDM and other alternative dark matter models.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Growth or Decay -- I: universality of the turbulent dynamo saturation

The turbulent small-scale dynamo (SSD) is likely to be responsible for the magnetisation of the interstellar medium (ISM) that we observe in the Universe today. The SSD efficiently converts kinetic energy $E_{\rm kin}$ into magnetic energy $E_{\rm mag} $, and is often used to explain how an initially weak magnetic field with $E_{\rm mag} \ll E_{\rm kin}$ is amplified, and then maintained at a level $E_{\rm mag} \lesssim E_{\rm kin}$. Usually, this process is studied by initialising a weak seed magnetic field and letting the turbulence grow it to saturation. However, in this Part I of the Growth or Decay series, using three-dimensional, visco-resistive magnetohydrodynamical turbulence simulations up to magnetic Reynolds numbers of 2000, we show that the same final state in the integral quantities, energy spectra, and characteristic scales of the magnetic field can also be achieved if initially $E_{\rm mag} \sim E_{\rm kin}$ or even if initially $E_{\rm mag} \gg E_{\rm kin}$. This suggests that the final saturated state of the turbulent dynamo is set by the turbulence and the material properties of the plasma, independent of the initial structure or amplitude of the magnetic field. We discuss the implications this has for the maintenance of magnetic fields in turbulent plasmas and future studies exploring the dynamo saturation.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Snowmass2021 Cosmic Frontier White Paper: Dark Matter Physics from Halo Measurements

The non-linear process of cosmic structure formation produces gravitationally bound overdensities of dark matter known as halos. The abundances, density profiles, ellipticities, and spins of these halos can be tied to the underlying fundamental particle physics that governs dark matter at microscopic scales. Thus, macroscopic measurements of dark matter halos offer a unique opportunity to determine the underlying properties of dark matter across the vast landscape of dark matter theories. This white paper summarizes the ongoing rapid development of theoretical and experimental methods, as well as new opportunities, to use dark matter halo measurements as a pillar of dark matter physics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Cosmological Structure Formation and Soliton Phase Transition in Fuzzy Dark Matter with Axion Self-Interactions

We investigate cosmological structure formation in Fuzzy Dark Matter (FDM) with an attractive self-interaction (SI) with numerical simulations. Such a SI would arise if the FDM boson were an ultra-light axion, which has a strong CP symmetry-breaking scale (decay constant). Although weak, the attractive SI may be strong enough to counteract the quantum 'pressure' and alter structure formation. We find in our simulations that the SI can enhance small-scale structure formation, and soliton cores above a critical mass undergo a phase transition, transforming from dilute to dense solitons.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

On the Cosmic Web Elongation in Fuzzy Dark Matter Cosmologies: Effects on Density Profiles, Shapes and Alignments of Halos

The fuzzy dark matter (FDM) scenario has received increased attention in recent years due to the small-scale challenges of the vanilla Lambda cold dark matter ($Λ$CDM) cosmological model and the lack of any experimental evidence for any candidate particle. In this study, we use cosmological $N$-body simulations to investigate high-redshift dark matter halos and their responsiveness to an FDM-like power spectrum cutoff on small scales in the primordial density perturbations. We study halo density profiles, shapes and alignments in FDM-like cosmologies (the latter two for the first time) by providing fits and quantifying departures from $Λ$CDM as a function of the particle mass $m$. Compared to $Λ$CDM, the concentrations of FDM-like halos are lower, peaking at an $m$-dependent halo mass and thus breaking the approximate universality of density profiles in $Λ$CDM. The intermediate-to-major and minor-to-major shape parameter profiles are monotonically increasing with ellipsoidal radius in $N$-body simulations of $Λ$CDM. In FDM-like cosmologies, the monotonicity is broken, halos are more elongated around the virial radius than their $Λ$CDM counterparts and less elongated closer to the center. Finally, intrinsic alignment correlations, stemming from the deformation of initially spherically collapsing halos in an ambient gravitational tidal field, become stronger with decreasing $m$. At $z\sim 4$, we find a $6.4 σ$-significance in the fractional differences between the isotropised linear alignment magnitudes $D_{\text{iso}}$ in the $m=10^{-22}$ eV model and $Λ$CDM. Such FDM-like imprints on the internal properties of virialised halos are expected to be strikingly visible in the high-$z$ Universe.

astro-ph.CO↗