The structure of dark matter halos. Observation versus theory
Abstract
Description
The rotation curves of dark matter dominated dwarf galaxies are analysed. The observations show that dark matter halos represent a one-parameter family with self similar density profiles. The global halo parameters, like total mass and scale length are coupled by simple scaling relations. The inner halo regions resemble non-singular, isothermal spheres with constant density cores. The observations are compared with dark matter halos, resulting from cosmological cold dark matter simulations. The theoretical models predict that dark matter halos represent a one-parameter family in agreement with the observations. However, in contradiction to the observations, the calculations lead to dark matter halos with $r^{-1}$ density cusps in the center and non-isothermal velocity dispersion profiles. Processes which might affect the inner halo structure, resulting in isothermal, constant density cores are discussed.
9 pages LaTeX, 2 postscript figures. To appear in "Aspects of Dark Matter in Astro-and Particle Physics", ed. H.V. Klapdor-Kleingrothaus and Y. Ramachers (1997)
9 pages LaTeX, 2 postscript figures. To appear in "Aspects of Dark Matter in Astro-and Particle Physics", ed. H.V. Klapdor-Kleingrothaus and Y. Ramachers (1997)