Early Galaxies in Cold andWarm DarkMatter Universes

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Christoph Pfrommer, since 2/2020
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 390015701

The standard paradigm of structure formation relies on the assumption that the nature of dark matter is basically cold (CDM), however, an interesting alternative often advocated to solve CDMsmall-scale problems is warm dark matter (WDM). This latter should have a non-negligible thermal velocity which results in a dumping of small structures. Such dumping is supposedly enhanced at early times. In this project accurate analyses of dedicated numerical N-body hydrodynamical simulations including non-equilibrium molecular networks, gas cooling, star formation, feedback effects and chemical enrichment in primordial dark-matter haloes are proposed. The main goal is to lay down a solid theoretical background for early galaxy formation in the first billion year both in CDM and WDM and to quantify the effects of the small-scale dumping due toWDM. By performing a complete characterization of thermal, chemical and dynamical features of early CDM and WDM structures it will be possible to quantify primordial luminous emissions in the two scenarios and to pose limits on the dark-matter nature through the expected implications on cosmic reionization.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Umberto Maio, Ph.D., until 2/2020