Paper detail

The ultra-diffuse dwarf galaxies NGC 1052-DF2 and 1052-DF4 are in conflict with standard cosmology

Recently van Dokkum et al. (2018b) reported that the galaxy NGC 1052-DF2 (DF2) lacks dark matter if located at $20$ Mpc from Earth. In contrast, DF2 is a dark-matter-dominated dwarf galaxy with a normal globular cluster population if it has a much shorter distance near $10$ Mpc. However, DF2 then has a high peculiar velocity wrt. the cosmic microwave background of $886$ $\rm{km\,s^{-1}}$, which differs from that of the Local Group (LG) velocity vector by $1298$ $\rm{km\,s^{-1}}$ with an angle of $117 \, ^{\circ}$. Taking into account the dynamical $M/L$ ratio, the stellar mass, half-light radius, peculiar velocity, motion relative to the LG, and the luminosities of the globular clusters, we show that the probability of finding DF2-like galaxies in the lambda cold dark matter ($Λ$CDM) TNG100-1 simulation is at most $1.0\times10^{-4}$ at $11.5$ Mpc and is $4.8\times10^{-7}$ at $20.0$ Mpc. At $11.5$ Mpc, the peculiar velocity is in significant tension with the TNG100-1, TNG300-1, and Millennium simulations, but occurs naturally in a Milgromian cosmology. At $20.0$ Mpc, the unusual globular cluster population would challenge any cosmological model. Estimating that precise measurements of the internal velocity dispersion, stellar mass, and distance exist for $100$ galaxies, DF2 is in $2.6σ$ ($11.5$ Mpc) and $4.1σ$ ($20.0$ Mpc) tension with standard cosmology. Adopting the former distance for DF2 and assuming that NGC 1052-DF4 is at $20.0$ Mpc, the existence of both is in tension at $\geq4.8σ$ with the $Λ$CDM model. If both galaxies are at $20.0$ Mpc the $Λ$CDM cosmology has to be rejected by $\geq5.8σ$.

preprint2019arXivOpen access

Signal facts

What is known right now

Open access4 authors2 topics

Next steps

Decide what to do with this paper

Use like or dislike for the fast social read. The more specific scholarly feedback stays available below when needed.

Log in to curate

Reading frame

Keep the important context close to the paper

Keep the important signals around this paper in one place: votes, save state, collection context, reviews and the metadata you need before deciding what to do next.

Institutions

Add specific reaction

Move through the context

Research map

Open full explorer

Move through nearby people, institutions, topics and adjacent work without leaving the paper page.

Building this map preview

BZPEER is loading the nearby papers, people, topics and institutions for this page.

Structured reviews

0 review(s)

ContributeLeave structured feedbackUse the review template when you have a concrete strength, concern or method question.Open review form

No structured reviews yet. High-signal critique starts here.

Work discussion

0 comment(s)

DiscussAdd a high-signal commentKeep quick notes, caveats and replication pointers separate from formal reviews.Open comment form

No discussion yet. The first strong comment sets the tone.