Andromeda XXV - a dwarf galaxy with a low central dark matter density
Abstract
Andromeda (And) XXV has previously been reported as a dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph) with little-to-no dark matter. However, the uncertainties on this result were significant. In this study, we nearly double the number of member stars and re-derive the kinematics and mass of And XXV. We find that And XXV has a systemic velocity of νr = -107.7 ± 1.0 kms-1 and a velocity dispersion of $\sigma _{\rm \nu }=3.7^{+1.2}_{-1.1}$ kms-1. With this updated velocity dispersion and a new literature measurement of the radial surface brightness profile, we derive a mass contained within the half-light radius of $M(r\lt r_{\rm h})=4.7^{+3.0}_{-2.9}\times 10^6$ M⊙. This mass corresponds to a mass-to-light ratio of $\text{[M/L]}_{\rm r_{h}}=25^{+17}_{-16}$ M⊙/L⊙, demonstrating that And XXV is most-likely dark matter dominated. We also measure the metallicity of And XXV to be $\rm [Fe/H]=-1.9\pm 0.1$ dex, which is in agreement with previous results. Finally, we extend the analysis of And XXV to include mass modelling using GravSphere. We find that And XXV has a low central dark matter density, ρDM(150 pc) = $2.3^{+1.4}_{-1.1}\times 10^7$ M⊙ kpc-3, which makes And XXV a clear outlier when compared to other local group dSphs of the similar stellar mass. In a companion paper, we will explore whether some combination of dark matter cusp-core transformations and/or tides can explain And XXV's low density.
- Publication:
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Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- May 2023
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2209.15022
- Bibcode:
- 2023MNRAS.521.3527C
- Keywords:
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- galaxies: dwarf;
- galaxies: kinematics and dynamics;
- galaxies: haloes;
- dark matter;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- 13 pages, 8 figures (7 main, 1 appendix). Submitted to MNRAS