 | The center of the dark matter halo of a galaxy. Brightness is linked to density. This movie shows the very central region of a galaxy halo
(frame size is only a few kiloparsecs). The mini halos orbiting have masses of only a few 105 solar masses and would probably be completely void of stars. We might detect the gamma rays emitted from these otherwise invisible objects when dark matter particles annihilate in the very high central densities of these halos.
This simulation is likely the highest resolution ever done of the formation of a single galaxy halo using more than 50 million particles at a resolution of only 100 parsecs. The simulation will require 3 months to finish and almost 100,000 hours of computing time. Results will be used to make flux prediction for observations with the new MAGIC Cherenkov Telescope. Octavio Valenzuela |
 | Color density plot of the dark matter density distribution in a
LambdaCDM Universe. The box is 300 million light years across.
The mass contained is 4 1016 solar masses.
The biggest halos have a size comparable to large galaxy clusters.
Darren Reed (University of Durham) |
 | Color density animation of the dark matter density distribution in a
Cold Dark Matter Universe dominated by dark energy.
The box is 300 million light years across. The mass contained in
the box is 4 1016 solar masses. The biggest halos have a size
comparable to large galaxy clusters.
Darren Reed (University of Durham) |