arXiv subjects

Tzihong Chiueh

Publications and source records attributed to Tzihong Chiueh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

JWST evidence for a sharp "Cosmic Daybreak" at z = 15

Luminous young galaxies have been uncovered with relative ease by JWST, extending to z=14.5, so it is puzzling that deeper spectroscopy of fainter candidates now finds only interlopers. This redshift `ìmpasse" is underscored by the measured stellar ages of these high-z galaxies, which we show converge to zero by z=15, with a marked absence of earlier star-formation. Taken literally, such a late transition from the Dark Ages to luminous galaxies is unlike the gradual Cosmic Dawn of standard LCDM, but does confirm a key prediction of Wave Dark Matter, $ψ$DM, as a Bose-Einstein condensate. The de Broglie wave pressure resists gravity until a substantial Jeans mass of $4\times 10^9M_\odot$ is overcome at z$=$15, corresponding to a light boson $m_ψ=2.2_{-0.3}^{+0.4} \times 10^{-22}$eV, and similar to independent estimates from lensing anomalies and dwarf galaxies. Furthermore, the substantial luminosities of the highest redshift galaxies appear to converge to the initial Jeans scale of $ψ$DM, whereas LCDM predictions extend to lower luminosities and larger ages than observed. These contrasting predictions can be definitively tested as JWST observations accumulate, with diametric implications for Dark Matter as heavy particles beyond the Standard Model, or ultra-light bosons motivated by the String Axiverse.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2026

Generating the wide sequence of Diffuse Galaxies with de Broglie waves of Dark Matter

Extensive Euclid satellite imaging at low surface brightness has revealed that most nearby galaxies are diffuse-looking spheroids, where the stellar radius increases monotonically over three decades in luminosity. We argue this Diffuse Galaxy sequence results from internal stellar diffusion by Wave Dark Matter ($ψ$DM), as wave energy is transferred to star orbits over time. In particular, the soliton random motion scatters central stars onto radial orbits that become enhanced with each passage through the centre, slowly "puffing up" the stellar profile. Heating is greater within massive galaxies as $ψ$DM fluctuations are stronger and more frequent, reproducing the Diffuse Galaxy sequence and also accounts for the rising velocity dispersion along the sequence, from Ultra-Faint to Dwarf Spheroidal and Ultra Diffuse galaxies, favouring a light boson, $m_ψ=2.88^{+0.14}_{-0.13}\times10^{-22}$eV. Winding back this diffusion, we predict the stellar content of Diffuse Galaxies, including globular clusters, formed near the centre, as anticipated by $ψ$DM simulations, where gas cools efficiently within the dense soliton. This predicted $ψ$DM evolution from compact beginnings towards diffuse-looking spheroidal galaxies today can now be fully charted from JWST to Euclid.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Deciphering the Soliton-Halo Relation in Fuzzy Dark Matter

Soliton cores at the center of fuzzy dark matter (FDM) halos provide a promising way to distinguish FDM from other dark matter models. However, the relation between solitons and their host halos remains contentious. Here, we rigorously examine this soliton-halo relation (SHR) using a rich set of cosmological simulations across various FDM particle masses, halo masses, and redshifts. We explicitly demonstrate thermal equilibrium between solitons and surrounding halo granules, energy equipartition within halos, and an FDM concentration-mass-nonisothermality relation. For each FDM halo, we confirm that its density profile outside the central soliton matches a collisionless N-body simulation from the same initial condition, serving as stringent numerical convergence tests. Our refined SHR agrees well with virialized halos in simulations, with a $1σ$ deviation of less than $30\%$. These findings not only reaffirm the SHR proposed by Schive et al. (2014) but also offer a more comprehensive understanding that extends its applicability. The simulation code GAMER is accessible at https://github.com/gamer-project/gamer. A Python script for computing the theoretical SHR is available at https://github.com/calab-ntu/fdm-soliton-halo-relation.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Propagating Instability for Wave Dark Matter

In the early Universe, large-scale flows were omnipresent, and the flow collisions produced sheets and filaments. This phenomenon occurs for both particle and wave dark matter. But for the latter, these sheets and filaments are the modulations of even finer-scale, large-amplitude interference fringes. This work aims to investigate the instability of the interference fringes arising from colliding waves. Two colliding streams in classical collisionless fluid systems can produce small-scale unstable oscillations with a finite complex frequency, identified as propagating instabilities. In fact, propagating unstable oscillations have never been observed in the conventional quantum system due to its being Sturm-Liouville property. For example, quantum fluid equations with Madelung variables only exhibit either Jeans instability, a purely growing unstable mode, or stable oscillations, for which the squared frequency is real. Despite that, this work discovers that quantum interference fringes can indeed generate propagating unstable oscillations with a complex squared frequency when the gravitational feedback perturbation is included. The presence of local density nulls in the background density is shown to be the necessary condition for such an instability. We establish a phase diagram separating the propagating instability, Jeans instability, and stable oscillation regions, and is verified by computer simulations. Generally speaking, Jeans instabilities tend to occur for long-wave density perturbations as expected; propagating instabilities on the other hand tend to occur for short density waves with wavelengths comparable to the fringe size, i.e., near the center of the Bloch zone; lastly, both instabilities diminish for very low density fringes. The propagating unstable fluctuation may possibly collapse into halos of small sizes, potentially seeding the formation of proto-globular clusters.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

Detection of a universal core-halo transition in dwarf galaxies as predicted by Bose-Einstein dark matter

The presence of large dark matter cores in dwarf galaxies has long been puzzling and many are now known to be surrounded by an extensive halo of stars. Distinctive core-halo structure is characteristic of dark matter as a Bose Einstein condensate, $ψ$DM, with a dense, soliton core predicted in every galaxy, representing the ground state, surrounded by a large, tenuous halo of excited density waves. A marked density transition is predicted between the core and the halo set by the de Broglie wavelength, as the soliton core is a prominent standing wave that is denser by over an order of magnitude than the surrounding halo. Here we identify this predicted behavior in the stellar profiles of the well known "isolated" dwarfs that lie outside the Milky Way, each with a clear density transition at $\simeq 1.0~{\rm kpc}$, implying a very light boson, $m_ψ \simeq 10^{-22}$eV. The classical dwarf galaxies orbiting within the Milky Way also show this predicted core-halo structure but with larger density transitions of over two orders of magnitude, that we show implies tidal stripping of dwarf galaxies by the Milky way, as the tenuous halo is more easily stripped than the stable soliton core. We conclude that dark matter as a light boson explains the observed family of classical dwarf profiles with tidal stripping included, in contrast to the standard heavy particle interpretation where low mass galaxies should be concentrated and core-less, quite unlike the core-halo structure observed.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Can the symmetric Fermi and eROSITA bubbles be produced by tilted jets?

The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope reveals two large bubbles in the Galaxy, extending nearly symmetrically $\sim50^{\circ}$ above and below the Galactic center (GC). Previous simulations of bubble formation invoking active galactic nucleus (AGN) jets have assumed that the jets are vertical to the Galactic disk; however, in general, the jet orientation does not necessarily correlate with the rotational axis of the Galactic disk. Using three-dimensional special relativistic hydrodynamic simulations including cosmic rays (CRs) and thermal gas, we show that the dense clumpy gas within the Galactic disk disrupts jet collimation ("failed jets" hereafter), which causes the failed jets to form hot bubbles. Subsequent buoyancy in the stratified atmosphere renders them vertical to form the symmetric Fermi and eROSITA bubbles (collectively, Galactic bubbles). We find that (1) despite the relativistic jets emanated from the GC are at various angles $\le45^{\circ}$ with respect to the rotational axis of the Galaxy, the Galactic bubbles nonetheless appear aligned with the axis; (2) the edge of the eROSITA bubbles corresponds to a forward shock driven by the hot bubbles; (3) followed by the forward shock is a tangling contact discontinuity corresponding to the edge of the Fermi bubbles; (4) assuming a leptonic model we find that the observed gamma-ray bubbles and microwave haze can be reproduced with a best-fit CR power-law spectral index of 2.4; The agreements between the simulated and the observed multi-wavelength features suggest that forming the Galactic bubbles by oblique AGN failed jets is a plausible scenario.

astro-ph.HE↗

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

Galactic disc heating by density granulation in fuzzy dark matter simulations

Fuzzy dark matter (FDM), an attractive dark matter candidate comprising ultralight bosons (axions) with a particle mass $m_a\sim10^{-22}$ eV, is motivated by the small-scale challenges of cold dark matter and features a kpc-size de Broglie wavelength. Quantum wave interference inside an FDM halo gives rise to stochastically fluctuating density granulation; the resulting gravitational perturbations could drive significant disc thickening, providing a natural explanation for galactic thick discs. Here we present the first self-consistent simulations of FDM haloes and stellar discs, exploring $m_a=0.2-1.2\times10^{-22}$ eV and halo masses $M_\text{h} = 0.7-2.8\times10^{11}$ M$_\odot$. Disc thickening is observed in all simulated systems. The disc heating rates are approximately constant in time and increase substantially with decreasing $m_a$, reaching $dh/dt \simeq 0.04$ ($0.4$) kpc Gyr$^{-1}$ and $dσ_z^2/dt \simeq4$ ($150$) km$^2$s$^{-2}$Gyr$^{-1}$ for $m_a=1.2$ ($0.2$) $\times10^{-22}$ eV and $M_\text{h} =7\times10^{10} \text{M}_\odot$, where $h$ is the disc scale height and $σ_z$ is the vertical velocity dispersion. These simulated heating rates agree within a factor of two with the theoretical estimates of Chiang et al., confirming that the rough estimate of Church et al. overpredicts the granulation-driven disc heating rate by two orders of magnitude. However, the simulation-inferred heating rates scale less steeply than the theoretically predicted relation $dσ^2_z/dt \propto m_a^{-3}$. Finally, we examine the applicability of the Fokker-Planck approximation in FDM granulation modelling and the robustness of the $m_a$ exclusion bound derived from the Galactic disc kinematics.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Einstein rings modulated by wavelike dark matter from anomalies in gravitationally lensed images

Unveiling the true nature of Dark Matter (DM), which manifests itself only through gravity, is one of the principal quests in physics. Leading candidates for DM are weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) or ultralight bosons (axions), at opposite extremes in mass scales, that have been postulated by competing theories to solve deficiencies in the Standard Model of particle physics. Whereas DM WIMPs behave like discrete particles ($\varrho$DM), quantum interference between DM axions is manifested as waves ($ψ$DM). Here, we show that gravitational lensing leaves signatures in multiply-lensed images of background galaxies that reveal whether the foreground lensing galaxy inhabits a $\varrho$DM or $ψ$DM halo. Whereas $\varrho$DM lens models leave well documented anomalies between the predicted and observed brightnesses and positions of multiply-lensed images, $ψ$DM lens models correctly predict the level of anomalies left over by $\varrho$DM lens models. More challengingly, when subjected to a battery of tests for reproducing the quadruply-lensed triplet images in the system HS 0810+2554, $ψ$DM is able to reproduce all aspects of this system whereas $\varrho$DM often fails. The ability of $ψ$DM to resolve lensing anomalies even in demanding cases like HS 0810+2554, together with its success in reproducing other astrophysical observations, tilt the balance toward new physics invoking axions.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

A weak lensing perspective on nonlinear structure formation with fuzzy dark matter

We investigate nonlinear structure formation in the fuzzy dark matter (FDM) model in comparison to cold dark matter (CDM) models from a weak lensing perspective using perturbative methods. We use Eulerian perturbation theory (PT) up to fourth order to compute the tree-level matter trispectrum and the one-loop matter spectrum and bispectrum from consistently chosen initial conditions. In addition, we predict the non-linear matter power spectra using $N$-body simulations with CDM and FDM initial conditions. We go on to derive the respective lensing spectra, bispectra and trispectra in CDM and FDM in the context of a Euclid-like weak lensing survey. Finally, we compute the attainable cumulative signal-to-noise ratios and an estimate of the attainable $χ^2$-functionals for distinguishing FDM from CDM at particle masses $m=10^{-21}$ eV, $m = 10^{-22}$ eV and $m = 10^{-23}$ eV. We find that PT predictions cannot be used to reliably distinguish the three models in a weak lensing survey. Assuming that $N$-body simulations overestimate the late-time small-scale power in the FDM model, future weak lensing survey might be used to distinguish between the FDM and CDM cases up to a mass of $m = 10^{-23}$ eV. However, observations probing the local high-$z$ universe are probably more suited to constrain the FDM mass.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Cosmological Simulations of Two-Component Wave Dark Matter

Wave (fuzzy) dark matter ($ψ$DM) consists of ultralight bosons, featuring a solitonic core within a granular halo. Here we extend $ψ$DM to two components, with distinct particle masses $m$ and coupled only through gravity, and investigate the resulting soliton-halo structure via cosmological simulations. Specifically, we assume $ψ$DM contains $75$ per cent major component and $25$ per cent minor component, fix the major-component particle mass to $m_{\rm major}=1\times10^{-22}\,{\rm eV}$, and explore two different minor-component particle masses with $m_{\rm major}:m_{\rm minor}=3:1$ and $1:3$, respectively. For $m_{\rm major}:m_{\rm minor}=3:1$, we find that (i) the major- and minor-component solitons coexist, have comparable masses, and are roughly concentric. (ii) The soliton peak density is significantly lower than the single-component counterpart, leading to a smoother soliton-to-halo transition and rotation curve. (iii) The combined soliton mass of both components follows the same single-component core-halo mass relation. In dramatic contrast, for $m_{\rm major}:m_{\rm minor}=1:3$, a minor-component soliton cannot form with the presence of a stable major-component soliton; the total density profile, for both halo and soliton, is thus dominated by the major component and closely follows the single-component case. To support this finding, we propose a toy model illustrating that it is difficult to form a soliton in a hot environment associated with a deep gravitational potential. The work demonstrates the extra flexibility added to the multi-component $ψ$DM model can resolve observational tensions over the single-component model while retaining its key features.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

On the Dynamical Heating of Dwarf Galaxies in a Fuzzy Dark Matter Halo

Fuzzy Dark Matter (FDM), consisting of ultralight bosons, is an intriguing alternative to Cold Dark Matter. Numerical simulations solving the Schrödinger-Poisson (SP) equation, which governs FDM dynamics, show that FDM halos consist of a central solitonic core (representing the ground state of the SP equation), surrounded by a large envelope of excited states. Wave interference gives rise to order unity density fluctuations throughout the envelope and causes the soliton to undergo density oscillations and execute a confined random walk in the central region of the halo. The resulting gravitational potential perturbations are an efficient source of dynamical heating. Using high-resolution numerical simulations of a $6.6 \times 10^{9} \rm M_{\odot}$ FDM halo with boson mass, $m_{\rm b}=8 \times 10^{-23} \ \rm eV$, we investigate the impact of this dynamical heating on the structure and kinematics of spheroidal dwarf galaxies of a fixed mass but different initial sizes and ellipticities. The galaxies are set up in equilibrium in the time-and-azimuthally averaged halo potential and evolved for $10 \ \rm Gyr$ in the live FDM halo. We find that they continuously increase their sizes and central velocity dispersions. In addition, their kinematic structures become strongly radially anisotropic, especially in the outskirts. Dynamical heating also causes initially ellipsoidal galaxies to become more spherical over time from the inside out and gives rise to distorted, non-concentric isodensity contours. These tell-tale characteristics of dynamical heating of dwarf galaxies in FDM halos can potentially be used to constrain the boson mass.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Theory and phenomenology of stressed wave-dark-matter soliton

Soliton in the hostile turbulent wave dark matter ($Ψ$DM) halo of a galaxy agitates with various kinds of excitation, and the soliton even breathes heavily under great stress. A theory of collective excitation for a $Ψ$DM soliton is presented. The collective excitation has different degrees of coupling to negative energy modes, where lower-order excitation generally necessitates more negative energy coupling. A constrained variational principle is developed to assess the frequencies and mode structures of small-amplitude perturbations. The predicted frequencies are in good agreement with those found in simulations. Soliton breathing at amplitudes on the verge of breakup is also a highlight of this work. Even in this extreme nonlinear regime, the wave function perturbation amplitudes are moderate. The simulation data shows a stable oscillation with frequency weakly dependent on the oscillation amplitude, and hints a self-consistent quasi-linear model for the wave function that accounts for modifications in the ground state wave function and the equilibrium density. The mock solution, constructed from the simulation data, can shed lights on the dynamics of the large-amplitude breathing soliton and supports the quasi-linear model, as evidenced by its ability to well predict the nonlinear eigenfrequency shifts and large-amplitude breathing frequency observed in simulations.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

On the Random Motion of Nuclear Objects in a Fuzzy Dark Matter Halo

Fuzzy Dark Matter (FDM), consisting of ultralight bosons ($m_{\rm b} \sim 10^{-22}\ \rm eV$), is an intriguing alternative to Cold Dark Matter. Numerical simulations that solve the Schrödinger-Poisson (SP) equation show that FDM halos consist of a central solitonic core, which is the ground state of the SP equation, surrounded by an envelope of interfering excited states. These excited states also interfere with the soliton, causing it to oscillate and execute a confined random walk with respect to the halo center of mass. Using high-resolution numerical simulations of a $6.6 \times 10^9 M_{\odot}$ FDM halo with $m_{\rm b} = 8 \times 10^{-23}\ \rm eV$ in isolation, we demonstrate that the wobbling, oscillating soliton gravitationally perturbs nuclear objects, such as supermassive black holes or dense star clusters, causing them to diffuse outwards. In particular, we show that, on average, objects with mass $\lesssim 0.3 \%$ of the soliton mass ($M_{\rm sol}$) are expelled from the soliton in $\sim 3\ \rm Gyr$, after which they continue their outward diffusion due to gravitational interactions with the soliton and the halo granules. More massive objects ($\gtrsim 1 \% M_{\rm sol}$), while executing a random walk, remain largely confined to the soliton due to dynamical friction. We also present an effective treatment of the diffusion, based on kinetic theory, that accurately reproduces the outward motion of low mass objects and briefly discuss how the observed displacements of star clusters and active galactic nuclei from the centers of their host galaxies can be used to constrain FDM.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

Evolution of perturbation and power spectrum in a two-component ultralight axionic universe

The evolution of cosmic perturbations in a two-component ultralight axionic universe is investigated. We present the first spectral computation of perturbations in multi-component universes. A particular case composed of light extreme axions and free massive particles offers a possibility for the formation of very high-redshift massive galaxies, which are typically required to host massive early quasars. Our computation retains the information of perturbed velocities for individual axion components, opening a new avenue for setting up initial conditions for future axion dark matter simulations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Soliton Oscillations and Revised Constraints from Eridanus II of Fuzzy Dark Matter

Fuzzy dark matter (FDM) has been a promising alternative to standard cold dark matter. The model consists of ultralight bosons with mass $m_b \sim 10^{-22}$ eV and features a quantum-pressure-supported solitonic core that oscillates. In this work, we show that the soliton density oscillations persist even after significant tidal stripping of the outer halo. We report two intrinsic yet distinct timescales associated, respectively, with the ground-state soliton wavefunction $τ_{00}$ and the soliton density oscillations $τ_\text{soliton}$, obeying $τ_\text{soliton} /τ_{00} \simeq 2.3$. The central star cluster (SC) in Eridanus II has a characteristic timescale $τ_\text{soliton} / τ_\text{SC} \sim 2$ to $3$ that deviates substantially from unity. As a result, we demonstrate, both analytically and numerically with three-dimensional self-consistent FDM simulations, that the gravitational heating of the SC owing to soliton density oscillations is negligible irrespective of $m_b$. We also show that the subhalo mass function to form Eridanus II does not place a strong constraint on $m_b$. These results are contrary to the previous findings by Marsh & Niemeyer (2019).

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

An adaptive mesh, GPU-accelerated, and error minimized special relativistic hydrodynamics code

We present a new special relativistic hydrodynamics (SRHD) code capable of handling coexisting ultra-relativistically hot and non-relativistically cold gases. We achieve this by designing a new algorithm for conversion between primitive and conserved variables in the SRHD solver, which incorporates a realistic ideal-gas equation of state covering both the relativistic and non-relativistic regimes. The code can handle problems involving a Lorentz factor as high as $10^6$ and optimally avoid the catastrophic cancellation. In addition, we have integrated this new SRHD solver into the code GAMER (https://github.com/gamer-project/gamer) to support adaptive mesh refinement and hybrid OpenMP/MPI/GPU parallelization. It achieves a peak performance of $7\times 10^{7}$ cell updates per second on a single Tesla P100 GPU and scales well to 2048 GPUs. We apply this code to two interesting astrophysical applications: (a) an asymmetric explosion source on the relativistic blast wave and (b) the flow acceleration and limb-brightening of relativistic jets.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Multiple Images and Flux Ratio Anomaly of Fuzzy Gravitational Lenses

Extremely light bosonic wave dark matter ($ψ$DM) is an emerging dark matter candidate contesting the conventional cold dark matter paradigm and a model subject to intense scrutiny of late. This work for the first time reports testable salient features pertinent to gravitational lenses of $ψ$DM halos. $ψ$DM halos are distinctly filled with large-amplitude, small-scale density fluctuations with $δρ/ρ_{\rm halo}\sim 1$ in form of density granules. This halo yields ubiquitous flux ratio anomalies of a few tens of percent, as is typically found for lensed quasars, and may also produce rare hexad and octad images, for sources located in well-defined caustic zones. We have found new critical features appearing in the highly de-magnified lens center when the halo has sufficiently high surface density near a very compact massive core.

astro-ph.GA↗