Numerical Facts about the Milky way's halo

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on determining the density, scale radius, and normal radius of the Milky Way's halo for input into the Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) profile. It highlights the challenge of obtaining definitive values for scale density (rho_0) due to its degeneracy with scale radius (R_s). The conversation emphasizes that expressing halo profiles in terms of maximum circular velocity (v_max) is often more effective than relying on rho_0. A link to a relevant research paper was provided for further details.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) profile
  • Familiarity with astrophysical concepts of density and scale radius
  • Knowledge of maximum circular velocity (v_max) in galactic dynamics
  • Basic comprehension of halo models in cosmology
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) profile in detail
  • Explore methods for calculating maximum circular velocity (v_max)
  • Investigate the implications of density degeneracy in halo modeling
  • Read the linked research paper for advanced insights on halo parameters
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, and cosmologists interested in galactic structure and halo modeling will benefit from this discussion.

majormuss
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I am trying to find the density, scale radius and normal radius of the milky way's halo. But these things are pretty hard to find. I want to find them so I can input them into the NFW profile:
760e366561387be89639a1aab92a56b0.png
 
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In this thread I gave some constants of a proposed halo model as well as a link to a paper with more detail.
 
This may be a nitpick (depending on what you are trying to achieve) but the scale density is not a "numerical fact" because it is degenerate with the scale radius when you express the NFW profile as you have done. For any set of data there is a range of pairs of values rho_0 and R_s that all fit well enough, so you can't say any particular value of rho_0 is a "fact". Its often better with these halo profiles to express them in terms of v_max instead of rho_0.
 

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