Non-Eq-Dyno · Non-equilibrium dynamics in the Milky Way and Local Group
Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2024-03-01 → 2027-02-28
- EU contribution
- €282,168
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Non-equilibrium dynamics in the Milky Way and Local Group
The aim of this action is to develop and apply novel techniques for modelling non-equilibrium dynamics in the Milky Way and Local Group. This new frontier, enabled by current and near future data sets, can shed light on one of the great mysteries of modern science: the fundamental nature of dark matter. Although non-equilibrium stellar dynamics is often regarded as an obstacle and liability, it does in fact probe otherwise unobtainable information, such as dynamical signatures that are unique to specific dark matter particle candidates. Traditionally, precision inference on dynamical systems are performed under an assumption of equilibrium. This assumption is powerful, when applicable, but many new observations, such as astrometric data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, are showing a more complex picture of time-varying and non-equilbrium galactic dynamics. For example, the Milky Way disk is host to many dynamical perturbations, such as the recently discovered phase-space spiral. Presently, there is a plethora of open questions in terms of how the different perturbations were formed, how they evolve, and how they relate and interact with each other. Although challenging, modelling and performing precision inference on such time-varying dynamical structures is crucial in order to understand our Galaxy's composition, history, and evolution. This action focuses on two aspects under the thematic umbrella of precision inference on non-equilibrium dynamics: (1) the perturbed Milky Way disk and in particular the phase-space spiral; and (2) perturbed dwarf galaxy satellites. The methods developed as part of this action has broader implications in the field of stellar and galactic dynamics, pushing the frontier of what information can be extracted from complex data.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The stellar dynamics of the Milky Way and Local Group allows us to infer their composition and history. Furthermore, such gravitational probes constitute a window into one of the greatest mysteries of modern science: the fundamental nature of dark matter. The research field of Galactic dynamics is undergoing a revolution thanks to novel observations, mainly coming from the ESA Gaia survey, which has revealed a variety of non-equilibrium dynamical structures. I propose to develop and apply novel techniques for modelling non-equilibrium dynamics in the Milky Way and Local Group. Although non-equilibrium stellar dynamics is often regarded as an obstacle and liability, it does in fact probe otherwise unobtainable information, such as dynamical signatures that are unique to specific dark matter particle candidates. I propose three ambitious Working Packages (WPs). In the first WP, I will use the recently discovered phase-space spiral in the Milky Way disk in order to measure the global gravitational potential of our Galaxy. The second and third WPs focus on the evolution of tidally perturbed Local Group dwarf galaxy satellites and how they can be used to probe the particle nature of dark matter. The outgoing and return phase institutes, Columbia University and Stockholm University, are home to infrastructure resources and expertise that are highly relevant to this action, such as large-scale galaxy simulations and state-of-the-art simulation-based inference techniques. The combination of host institutes will enable me to build a trans-Atlantic network of collaborators and contacts, which will greatly increase my competitiveness and employability in the academic sector.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- STOCKHOLMS UNIVERSITET · StockholmCoordinatorSweden
- TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK · New YorkUnited States
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/101106028
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e5132ded64&appId=PPGMS
Data: CORDIS, © European Union