We use new proper motion measurements of M31 to examine the orbit and angular momentum between the Milky Way (MW) and M31. Assuming a Local Group (LG) mass consistent with measured values and that the system evolves in isolation, we show that a variety of orbits is possible. We compare to a sample of LG-like systems in the Illustris-TNG simulation and find that $\sim 13\%$ of these pairs have...
The Lambda CDM model has varies shortcomings when looking at the small scale structures of the universe, like the missing satellite problem or the core cusp problem. We are part of an international research collaboration where our sub-team aims for deriving an effective one- and two-fluid descriptions of dissipative, self-interacting dark matter (DSIDM). The main goal is to obtain a better...
Dark matter (DM) is an invisible form of matter, accounting for most of the Universe’s mass, and has a critical role in cosmic structure formation. Despite its abundance, dark matter remains poorly understood within current fundamental physics. Its specific particle nature and interaction mechanisms remain unknown. We are researching a promising theory, dissipative dark matter (DDM), where...
The nature of dark matter (DM) has been a primary interest in cosmology and beyond Standard Model physics. Leading models, such as WIMPs, theorize a coupling with the Standard Model (SM) that allow for scattering off SM particles. Direct detection experiments, such as XENON1T and LUX, search for these DM scattering events and have determined constraints on DM models, but have not yet detected...
Stellar streams are thin, elongated structures in the Galactic halo, formed by the tidal disruption of bound groups of stars. They provide valuable insight into the Milky Way’s gravitational potential and dark matter substructure, as breaks in their structure can reveal past interactions with dark matter clumps.
Previous stream searches often prioritized either astrometric or photometric...
Dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) offer a unique opportunity to probe the nature of dark matter (DM) due to their proximity and high dark matter content. In this project, we investigate whether future spectroscopic data, such as that from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), could enable us to distinguish between cusped and cored dark matter profiles in these systems. To test this,...
Stellar streams are elongated trails of stars stripped by tidal forces from globular clusters and dwarf galaxies. These tidal features offer a powerful way to probe the formation history of the Milky Way and its dark matter substructure. This work aimed to develop a pipeline to characterize the kinematic and chemical properties of stellar streams associated with globular clusters, using...
One of the first models for Dark Matter (DM) has historically been the Cold Dark Matter (CDM) Model. This model works well on large scales, however, it breaks on smaller scales. To remedy this, a fix has been proposed in the form of Self-Interacting Dark Matter (SIDM), which can accurately reproduce some of the structure of galaxies. This approach does not fulfil every possible criterion for a...
The Milky Way is a living mosaic of stars of different origins: some were formed in-situ, while others were accreted from dwarf galaxies that have since been disrupted. To reconstruct the galaxy’s formation history, these accreted populations must therefore be identified and characterized. These ancient relics are mainly located in the stellar halo, but the debris from different progenitors...
Globular clusters (GCs) are often regarded as simple stellar populations with
uniform ages and chemical compositions. However, observations, particularly from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), reveal peculiar abundance patterns, known as multiple populations (MPs). MPs are characterized by enhancements in He, N, and Na, alongside depletions in O and C. The origin of these abundance variations...
Dark matter is hypothesized to make up 85\% of the matter of the Universe, yet, despite much cosmological evidence for its existence, its fundamental nature remains unknown, making it one of the most pressing open questions in modern physics. SNOLAB, 2000 metres underground in a nickel mine near Sudbury, Ontario, hosts the PICO-40L detector, which uses bubble chamber technology for...
Next-generation gravitational wave (GW) detectors are expected to detect hundreds of thousands of events per year. This will provide a rich dataset to not only study the binary black hole (BBH) source population but also test cosmological models. Each GW event offers a direct estimate of the luminosity distance to the source. When coupled with the redshift, this enables the construction of a...
Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration flashes of radio waves originating from extragalactic — and possibly cosmological — distances. While their progenitors remain a subject of active investigation, the propagation of FRBs through cosmic media renders them powerful tools for astrophysical and cosmological inquiry. In this talk, I will introduce the key observational properties of...
The formation and evolution of the early Universe is the subject of ongoing research, with many open questions such as the formation of supermassive black holes. It is thought that dark matter minihalos provided the necessary conditions for the primordial gas to collapse. While the simplest dark matter model, cold dark matter, can explain the structure of the Universe on a large scale, an...
