Project Grant 2307788

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Astronomical Sciences awarded a $398,629 Project Grant to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049). The grant supports collaborative research to systematically predict dynamical signatures of new dark matter physics in galaxies. The researchers will implement various dark matter models in simulations of galaxies like the Milky Way and smaller dwarfs, creating a set of controlled experiments to identify indirect tests that can distinguish between dark matter models. The key outcomes include: (1) new open-source software modules implementing different dark matter particle models, (2) a public dataset of simulated Milky Way-like and dwarf galaxies with varying dark matter physics, (3) observationally testable predictions for current and future observatories to constrain or rule out dark matter models, and (4) training a network of diverse graduate researchers and postdocs to bridge the gap between dark matter theory, galaxy formation, and observational predictions. This interdisciplinary effort aims to advance the scientific understanding of the mysterious dark matter that makes up over 80% of the matter in the universe.