Estimating the local dark matter density in a non-axisymmetric wobbling disc

Understand

The density of dark matter near the Sun is important for experiments hunting for dark matter particles in the laboratory, and for constraining the local shape of the Milky Way's dark matter halo.

• Estimates to date have typically assumed that the Milky Way's stellar disc is axisymmetric and in a steady-state.
• Yet the Milky Way disc is neither, exhibiting prominent spiral arms and a bar, and vertical and radial oscillations.
• We assess the impact of these assumptions on determinations of the local dark matter density by applying a free-form, steady-state, Jeans method to two different N-body simulations of Milky Way-like galaxies.