The DOI matches its Crossref record; 224 of the 228 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The local dark matter density
Open accessAbstract
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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“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)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
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“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
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Cites
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
The Galaxy in Context: Structural, Kinematic, and Integrated Properties
Bland-Hawthorn, J., & Gerhard, O. (2016) · Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics · doi:10.1146/annurev-astro-081915-023441 · Cited by 1,656
Small-Scale Challenges to the Λ CDM Paradigm
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“In the Solar neighbourhood,Read(2014) noted that the comparison of constraints from the rotation curve (which providesan estimate of the spherically averaged enclosed dark-matter content) and estimates of the local density provide a constraint on the halo shape which is consistent with spherical or…”
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Metadata
- 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
- 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
- bronze
- doi.org
- 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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