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Department of Physics & Astronomy













P&A Colloquium – Dr. Luna Zagorac, Perimeter Institute
	
 Sep 11, 2024 
 10:30AM to 11:30AM


1280 Main St. West, ABB 102, Hamilton, Canada



































Date/Time

Date(s) - 11/09/2024
10:30 am - 11:30 am




Location

Physics and Astronomy Department





ABB 102


Speaker: Dr. Luna Zagorac




Title: Postdoctoral Researcher

Perimeter Institute

Dr. Zagorac Profile link


Title: Not Really Quantum Cosmology: How far can we get by treating a dark matter halo like an atom?


Abstract: Axion-like particles have been gaining popularity recently as potential solutions to dark matter with fascinating wave-like dynamics. In this talk, I will focus on fuzzy or ultralight dark matter (FDM/ULDM): a candidate which keeps the successes of CDM on large scales but alleviates tensions on small scales. This small-scale behavior is due to characteristic observable cores in ULDM called solitons, which also correspond to the ground state of the equations governing ULDM. Thus, one promising avenue for studying ULDM dynamics is by treating individual halos as hydrogen atoms and calculating the full spectrum of their eigenstates, which are then linked to the qualitative behavior of the halo. In this talk, I will outline how and why this approach is useful, as well show its applications to observationally relevant phenomena, including: the formation of halos, the core-halo mass relation of ULDM, and the effects of supernovae feedback on spherically symmetric halos.


The image shows a square cross-section through a simulation box centered on white background. In the cross-section of the simulation, the density of dark matter particles is shown on a scale from light yellow (densest) through pink (average density) and darker purple (least dense). In the center of the simulation there is a yellow circle indicating a dense core, around which is a mostly-pink area with wiggly and narrow purple streaks snaking in random directions. The lighter pink areas indicate constructive interference, or overdose regions; the purple wiggles indicate destructive interference, or underdone regions. There are highlighted by black arrows showing the core, constructive interference, and destructive interference on the left. On the right, a color bar indicated the numerical values of density given in code units.