Constraining the Milky Way Mass Profile with Phase-Space Distribution of Satellite Galaxies

Understand

We estimate the Milky Way (MW) halo properties using satellite kinematic data including the latest measurements from Gaia DR2.

• With a simulation-based 6D phase-space distribution function (DF) of satellite kinematics, we can infer halo properties efficiently and without bias, and handle the selection function and measurement errors rigorously in the Bayesian framework.
• Applying our DF from the EAGLE simulation to 28 satellites, we obtain an MW halo mass of $M=1.23_{-0.18}^{+0.21}\times 10^{12} M_\odot$ and a concentration of $c=9.4_{ -2.1}^{ +2.8}$ with the prior based on the $M$-$c$ relation.
• The inferred mass profile is consistent with previous measurements but with better precision and reliability due to the improved methodology and data.