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Cited by 490Dark Matter and Cosmic PhenomenaGalaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaStellar, planetary, and galactic studies

The local dark matter density

Open access
Read, J I·2014·Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
DOI 10.1088/0954-3899/41/6/063101
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Abstract

I review current efforts to measure the mean density of dark matter near the Sun. This encodes valuable dynamical information about our Galaxy and is also of great importance for 'direct detection' dark matter experiments. I discuss theoretical expectations in our current cosmology; the theory behind mass modelling of the Galaxy; and I show how combining local and global measures probes the shape of the Milky Way dark matter halo and the possible presence of a 'dark disc'. I stress the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies and highlight the continuing need for detailed tests on mock data—particularly in the light of recently discovered evidence for disequilibria in the Milky Way disc. I collate the latest measurements of ρ dm and show that, once the baryonic surface density contribution Σ b is normalized across different groups, there is remarkably good agreement. Compiling data from the literature, I estimate Σ b = 54.2 ± 4.9 M ⊙ pc −2 , where the dominant source of uncertainty is in the H i gas contribution. Assuming this contribution from the baryons, I highlight several recent measurements of ρ dm in order of increasing data complexity and prior, and, correspondingly, decreasing formal error bars. Comparing these measurements with spherical extrapolations from the Milky Way's rotation curve, I show that the Milky Way is consistent with having a spherical dark matter halo at R 0 ∼ 8 kpc. The very latest measures of ρ dm based on ∼10 000 stars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey appear to favour little halo flattening at R 0 , suggesting that the Galaxy has a rather weak dark matter disc, with a correspondingly quiescent merger history. I caution, however, that this result hinges on there being no large systematics that remain to be uncovered in the SDSS data, and on the local baryonic surface density being Σ b ∼ 55 M ⊙ pc −2 . I conclude by discussing how the new Gaia satellite will be transformative. We will obtain much tighter constraints on both Σ b and ρ dm by having accurate 6D phase space data for millions of stars near the Sun. These data will drive us towards fully three dimensional models of our Galactic potential, moving us into the realm of precision measurements of ρ dm .

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1088/0954-3899/41/6/063101

Cites

224 of 228 references verified0 citation errors · 4 not checkable

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Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The two recent determinations of Read (2014) and McKee et al. (2015) favour the contracted halo model; however, due to large uncertainties, the pure NFW model cannot be ruled out.

    “The two recent determinations of Read (2014) and McKee et al. (2015) favour the contracted halo model; however, due to large uncertainties, the pure NFW model cannot be ruled out.”

    From The milky way total mass profile as inferred from Gaia DR2 (2020) · cites this paper as Read (2014)

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The contracted halo model indicates a local DM density of 8.8 +0.5 -0.5 × 10^−3 M⊙ pc^−3, that is, 0.33 +0.02 -0.02 GeV cm^−3, in agreement with other literature values.

    “The contracted halo model indicates a local DM density of 8 . 8 +0 . 5 -0 . 5 × 10 -3 M ⊙ pc -3 , that is, 0 . 33 +0 . 02 -0 . 02 GeV cm -3 , in agreement with other literature values”

    From The milky way total mass profile as inferred from Gaia DR2 (2020) · cites this paper as Read 2014

    The “Measurements of ρ dm” table (page unavailable) reports a local value near 0.33 GeV cm⁻³ and says the recent measurements are broadly in agreement. But it gives 0.0087⁺⁰·⁰⁰⁷₋₀.₀₀₂ M⊙ pc⁻³ (0.33⁺⁰·²⁶₋₀.₀₇₅ GeV cm⁻³), not the claimed value and ±0.02 uncertainty, and does not identify that result as a contracted-halo model. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 10

  1. Binney J and Merrifield M 1998 Galactic Astronomy. Galactic Astronomy / James Binney and Michael Merrifield Princeton series in astrophysics (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press)
  2. Binney J J and Tremaine S 2008 Galactic Dynamics 2nd edn (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press)
  3. de Boer W and Weber M 2011 J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. JCAP04(2011)002 · DOI
  4. Dehnen W and Binney J J 1998b Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 294 429 · DOI
  5. Faure C, Siebert A and Famaey B 2014 arXiv:1403.0587 · arXiv
  6. Holmberg J and Flynn C 2000b Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 313 209 · DOI
  7. Hopkins P F, Keres D, Onorbe J, Faucher-Giguere C-A, Quataert E, Murray N and Bullock J S 2013 arXiv:1311.2073 · arXiv
  8. Phillips A C 1999 The Physics of Stars 2nd edn (New York: Wiley)
  9. Piffl T et al 2014 Astron. Astrophys. 562 A91 · DOI
  10. Planck Collaboration 2013 arXiv:1303.5076 · arXiv

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Authors
Read, J. I.
Affiliations
University of Surrey (GB)
Corresponding author
Read, J I
ORCID
Read, J I
Venue
Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Published
2014-05-12
Volume
41
Issue
6
Pages
063101
ISSN
  • 0954-3899 (ISSN-L)
  • 1361-6471
DOI
10.1088/0954-3899/41/6/063101
OpenAlex
W2149961863
Cited by
489
References
222
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 43 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 10
FWCI
16.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Physics G Nuclear and Particle Physics (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
Keywords
local dark matter density, Milky Way dark matter halo, baryonic surface density, rotation curves, halo flattening, Gaia, halo merger history

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