Observable tests of self-interacting dark matter in galaxy clusters: cosmological simulations with SIDM and baryons

Understand

We present BAHAMAS-SIDM, the first large-volume, (400/h Mpc)^3, cosmological simulations including both self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) and baryonic physics.

• These simulations are important for two primary reasons: 1) they include the effects of baryons on the dark matter distribution 2) the baryon particles can be used to make mock observables that can be compared directly with observations.
• As is well known, SIDM haloes are systematically less dense in their centres, and rounder, than CDM haloes.
• Here we find that that these changes are not reflected in the distribution of gas or stars within galaxy clusters, or in their X-ray luminosities.