DarkGalaxies | Dark galaxies: Probing the ΛCDM cosmological model on unprecedented scales

Summary
The currently favoured Lambda-Cold-Dark-Matter (ΛCDM) cosmological model makes specific predictions about the
abundance, structure and clustering of dark matter halos (DMHs), the sites where galaxies form. These predictions are
accurate at describing large scale observations. On smaller scales, the agreement between ΛCDM and observations of
dwarf galaxies is unclear because (i) the structure of DMHs depends on particularities of different galaxy formation models,
and (ii) observations of dwarfs suffer from sizable uncertainties. Is ΛCDM successful on small scales? A definite answer to
this major open question may either reveal the nature of DM or change dramatically our understanding of structure formation
in the Universe. My research will deliver the foundations to probe ΛCDM on unprecedented small scales by exploiting a
fundamental prediction of the model: the existence of nearby DM-dominated “dark” galaxies (so-called RELHICs). RELHICs
are pristine collapsed DMHs that contain sufficient gas leftover from the epoch of reionization to recombine and emit
radiation that can be observed in 21 cm (or recombination lines) but without becoming self-shielding and forming stars.

Firstly, I will develop and analyse high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations performed with state-of-the-art numerical
codes that include cutting-edge galaxy formation and radiative-transfer (RT) models to predict the abundance and clustering
of RELHICs. Secondly, I will design robust survey strategies targeted at detecting RELHICs with current and upcoming
observing facilities (e.g., ALMA, FAST, MEERKAT, WALLABY). The detection and characterization of REHICs will offer an
unprecedented and clean probe to ΛCDM on scales that have not yet been probed.

My extensive expertise in numerical simulations, cosmology and galaxy formation, combined with that of Prof. Michele
Fumagalli in RT and physics of the interstellar medium will enable me to materialize my predictions into observational probes.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101026328
Start date: 01-09-2022
End date: 31-08-2024
Total budget - Public funding: 183 473,28 Euro - 183 473,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

The currently favoured Lambda-Cold-Dark-Matter (ΛCDM) cosmological model makes specific predictions about the
abundance, structure and clustering of dark matter halos (DMHs), the sites where galaxies form. These predictions are
accurate at describing large scale observations. On smaller scales, the agreement between ΛCDM and observations of
dwarf galaxies is unclear because (i) the structure of DMHs depends on particularities of different galaxy formation models,
and (ii) observations of dwarfs suffer from sizable uncertainties. Is ΛCDM successful on small scales? A definite answer to
this major open question may either reveal the nature of DM or change dramatically our understanding of structure formation
in the Universe. My research will deliver the foundations to probe ΛCDM on unprecedented small scales by exploiting a
fundamental prediction of the model: the existence of nearby DM-dominated “dark” galaxies (so-called RELHICs). RELHICs
are pristine collapsed DMHs that contain sufficient gas leftover from the epoch of reionization to recombine and emit
radiation that can be observed in 21 cm (or recombination lines) but without becoming self-shielding and forming stars.

Firstly, I will develop and analyse high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations performed with state-of-the-art numerical
codes that include cutting-edge galaxy formation and radiative-transfer (RT) models to predict the abundance and clustering
of RELHICs. Secondly, I will design robust survey strategies targeted at detecting RELHICs with current and upcoming
observing facilities (e.g., ALMA, FAST, MEERKAT, WALLABY). The detection and characterization of REHICs will offer an
unprecedented and clean probe to ΛCDM on scales that have not yet been probed.

My extensive expertise in numerical simulations, cosmology and galaxy formation, combined with that of Prof. Michele
Fumagalli in RT and physics of the interstellar medium will enable me to materialize my predictions into observational probes.

Status

SIGNED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2020

Update Date

28-04-2024
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Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
MSCA-IF-2020 Individual Fellowships