Dwarf Sphs/First-galaxies connection

I analyze the properties of the first galaxies in cosmological simulations with radiative feedback. Preliminary results indicate similarities with the observed properties of the bulk of dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) in the Local Group and Andromeda. I briefly discuss observational tests that could help in understanding the impact of a population of small primordial objects on the cosmic evolution.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. To appear in the proceedings of "The IGM/Galaxy Connection - The Distribution of Baryons at z=0", ed. M. Putman & J. Rosenber

Massive Milky Way Satellites in Cold and Warm Dark Matter: Dependence on Cosmology

We investigate the claim that the largest subhaloes in high resolution dissipationless cold dark matter (CDM) simulations of the Milky Way are dynamically inconsistent with observations of its most luminous satellites. We find that the inconsistency is largely attributable to the large values of \sigma_8 and n_s adopted in the discrepant simulations producing satellites that form too early and therefore are too dense. We find the tension between observations and simulations adopting parameters consistent with WMAP9 is greatly diminished making the satellites a sensitive test of CDM. We find the Via Lactea II halo to be atypical for haloes in a WMAP3 cosmology, a discrepancy that we attribute to its earlier formation epoch than the mean for its mass. We also explore warm dark matter (WDM) cosmologies for 1--4 keV thermal relics. In 1 keV cosmologies subhaloes have circular velocities at kpc scales ~ 60% lower than their CDM counterparts, but are reduced by only 10% in 4 keV cosmologies. Since relic masses < 2-3 keV are ruled out by constraints from the number of Milky Way satellites and Lyman-\alpha\ forest, WDM has a minor effect in reducing the densities of massive satellites. Given the uncertainties on the mass and formation epoch of the Milky Way, the need for reducing the satellite densities with baryonic effects or WDM is alleviated.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, submitted to MNRA

Constraints on the Dark Matter Particle Mass from the Number of Milky Way Satellites

We have conducted N-body simulations of the growth of Milky Way-sized halos in cold and warm dark matter cosmologies. The number of dark matter satellites in our simulated Milky Ways decreases with decreasing mass of the dark matter particle. Assuming that the number of dark matter satellites exceeds or equals the number of observed satellites of the Milky Way we derive lower limits on the dark matter particle mass. We find with 95% confidence m_s > 13.3 keV for a sterile neutrino produced by the Dodelson and Widrow mechanism, m_s > 8.9 keV for the Shi and Fuller mechanism, m_s > 3.0 keV for the Higgs decay mechanism, and m_{WDM} > 2.3 keV for a thermal dark matter particle. The recent discovery of many new dark matter dominated satellites of the Milky Way in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey allows us to set lower limits comparable to constraints from the complementary methods of Lyman-alpha forest modeling and X-ray observations of the unresolved cosmic X-ray background and of dark matter halos from dwarf galaxy to cluster scales. Future surveys like LSST, DES, PanSTARRS, and SkyMapper have the potential to discover many more satellites and further improve constraints on the dark matter particle mass.Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures, replaced with final version published in Physical Review

Constraints on First-Light Ionizing Sources from Optical Depth of the Cosmic Microwave Background

We examine the constraints on high-redshift star formation, ultraviolet and X-ray pre-ionization, and the epoch of reionization at redshift z_r, inferred from the recent WMAP-5 measurement, tau_e = 0.084 +/- 0.016, of the electron scattering optical depth of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Half of this scattering can be accounted for by the optical depth, tau_e = 0.04-0.05, of a fully ionized intergalactic medium (IGM) at z < z_GP = 6-7, consistent with Gunn-Peterson absorption in neutral hydrogen. The required additional optical depth, Delta-tau_e = 0.03 +/- 0.02 at z > z_GP, constrains the ionizing contributions of first light sources. WMAP-5 also measured a significant increase in small-scale power, which lowers the required efficiency of star formation and ionization from mini-halos. Early massive stars (UV radiation) and black holes (X-rays) can produce a partially ionized IGM, adding to the residual electrons left from incomplete recombination. Inaccuracies in computing the ionization history, x_e(z), and degeneracies in cosmological parameters (Omega_m, Omega_b, sigma_8, n_s) add systematic uncertainty to the measurement and modeling of $\tau_e$. From the additional optical depth from sources at z > z_GP, we limit the star-formation efficiency, the rate of ionizing photon production for Pop III and Pop II stars, and the photon escape fraction, using standard histories of baryon collapse, minihalo star formation, and black-hole X-ray preionization.Comment: Greatly revised version, based on WMAP-5 results and new models. Accepted for ApJ (2008

Dependence of the Inner DM Profile on the Halo Mass

I compare the density profile of dark matter (DM) halos in cold dark matter (CDM) N-body simulations with 1 Mpc, 32 Mpc, 256 Mpc and 1024 Mpc box sizes. In dimensionless units the simulations differ only for the initial power spectrum of density perturbations. I compare the profiles when the most massive halos are composed of about 10^5 DM particles. The DM density profiles of the halos in the 1 Mpc box show systematically shallower cores with respect to the corresponding halos in the 32 Mpc simulation that have masses, M_{dm}, typical of the Milky Way and are fitted by a NFW profile. The DM density profiles of the halos in the 256 Mpc box are consistent with having steeper cores than the corresponding halos in the 32 Mpc simulation, but higher mass resolution simulations are needed to strengthen this result. Combined, these results indicate that the density profile of DM halos is not universal, presenting shallower cores in dwarf galaxies and steeper cores in clusters. Physically the result sustains the hypothesis that the mass function of the accreting satellites determines the inner slope of the DM profile. In comoving coordinates, r, the profile \rho_{dm} \propto 1/(X^\alpha(1+X)^{3-\alpha}), with X=c_\Delta r/r_\Delta, r_\Delta is the virial radius and \alpha =\alpha(M_{dm}), provides a good fit to all the DM halos from dwarf galaxies to clusters at any redshift with the same concentration parameter c_\Delta ~ 7. The slope, \gamma, of the outer parts of the halo appears to depend on the acceleration of the universe: when the scale parameter is a=(1+z)^{-1} < 1, the slope is \gamma ~ 3 as in the NFW profile, but \gamma ~ 4 at a > 1 when \Omega_\Lambda ~ 1 and the universe is inflating.[abridged]Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 13 pages, including 11 figures and 2 tables. The revised version has an additional discussion section and work on the velocity dispersion anisotrop

The NorthStar Ambulatory Assessment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: considerations for the design of clinical trials.

With the emergence of experimental therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), it is fundamental to understand the natural history of this disorder to properly design clinical trials. The aims of this study were to assess the effects produced on motor function by different DMD genotypes and early initiation of glucocorticoids