Collapsed Dark Matter Structures.

Area of Science:

• Cosmology
• Astrophysics
• Particle Physics

Background:

• Dark matter and baryonic matter exhibit distinct large-scale distributions in the Universe.
• Baryons cool and collapse into galactic structures, while dark matter is typically found in extended halos.
• The inability of dark matter to cool and collapse is a widely accepted cosmological principle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the assumption that dark matter cannot cool and collapse.
• To explore a model where dark matter possesses self-interaction properties.
• To investigate the possibility of dark matter forming smaller, gravitationally collapsed objects.

Main Methods:

• A theoretical model is proposed where dark matter particles interact via a 'dark electromagnetism.'
• This model explores the conditions under which dark matter could overcome its inability to radiate energy.
• The study considers the implications for the formation of dark matter structures at various mass scales.

Main Results:

• A simple model suggests dark matter can form gravitationally collapsed objects.
• These objects can have mass scales significantly smaller than Milky Way-sized galaxies.
• While most dark matter remains in halos, substructures are a possibility.

Conclusions:

• The assumption that dark matter cannot cool and collapse may be too simplistic.
• A 'dark electromagnetism' interaction allows for the formation of smaller dark matter structures.
• Galaxies could potentially host numerous collapsed dark matter substructures, warranting further observational investigation.