Physics Colloquium with Ferah Munshi on Dark Matter
Dwarf galaxies provide a very important and intriguing laboratory for the study of dark matter physics. I will present results from extremely high resolution, fully cosmological simulations that contain many isolated dwarf galaxies [the MARVELous dwarfs] as well as satellite dwarf galaxies [the DC Justice League]. Together, they create the largest collection (211) of high-resolution simulated dwarf galaxies to date and the first collection to resolve ultra-faint dwarf galaxies in multiple environments. With this flagship suite I can statistically characterize dwarf galaxies in order to constrain dark matter physics. I will present results answering the following key question: What testable predictions can we make to constrain dark matter at the lowest dwarf masses? Finally, such exquisite, high resolution simulations produce a vast amount of data - this talk will also highlight novel simulation analysis tools that leverage databases and machine learning as well as the potential for data-driven interdisciplinary collaboration.