Phase_Space_Evolution_of_a_Substellar_Thick_Disk__Dark_Matter_Constraints__the_Collisional_Paradox__and_Observational_Forecasts.pdf

A recent hypothesis proposes that macroscopic interstellar objects (ISOs) could account for up to45% of the locally inferred dark matter budget. Here, a heuristic collisional constraint is introduced toevaluate the physical viability of this scenario. The required ISO number density is found to generatean integrated optical depth that introduces a severe physical tension when cross-referenced with thecontinuous telemetry maintained by deep-space heliopause probes, specifically Voyager 1, Voyager 2,and New Horizons, rendering the high-density ISO scenario inconsistent with empirical observations ata > 3σ confidence level. To resolve this collisional paradox, the galactic-scale spatial distribution andobservational signatures of an orbitally diffused, baryonic substellar population comprising free-floatingplanets (FFPs) and brown dwarfs (BDs) are modeled. Utilizing GPU-accelerated forward orbit integrationsof 2×108 particles over an 11 Gyr baseline within a realistic Galactic potential, it is demonstratedthat the vertical phase mixing of this population, initialized with system-ejection velocity dispersions,naturally establishes a thick-disk configuration. This evolved state is characterized by a vertical scaleheight of z0 ≈ 0.439 kpc and a vertical velocity dispersion of σz = 39.55 km/s at the solar radius. Subsequently,a 30,000-step Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) optimization framework is applied to fitthe Gaia DR3 Milky Way rotation curve under a physically anchored Gaussian prior on the substellarcentral normalization (σprior = 0.1 dex). Rather than measuring a direct alteration to the dark matterhalo, the inclusion of this kinematically relaxed substellar component quantifies a physically-allowedlocal baryonic reallocation fraction of Y = 1.21%+0.08%−0.07% within the local Galactic potential, whichtranslates to a complementary local baryonic mass density allocation of ∼ 8 × 10−4M⊙ pc−3. Thisstructural mass reallocation is highly decoupled from halo modeling uncertainties, remaining stableacross NFW, Einasto, and Burkert configurations (Y ∈ [1.15%, 1.32%]), and varies by only a factor of1.6 across a factor of 3.6 range in thick-disk vertical scale heights. Furthermore, the integrated thermalemission from this ancient, cold population (Teff ∼ 700 K) peaks at a monochromatic wavelength ofλpeak = 4.14 μm, contributing a monochromatic surface brightness of 0.143nWm−2 sr−1, or 1.43% ofthe absolute COBE/DIRBE 12 μm sky brightness limit. While this diffuse signature operates belowcurrent foreground confusion floors, spatial anisotropy mapping and angular power spectrum analysesvia upcoming wide-field space surveys present testable expectations and qualitative predictions toestablish independent empirical upper limits on the local substellar mass budget.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-06-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20748716
Primary Topic
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
Type
preprint
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preprint

Phase_Space_Evolution_of_a_Substellar_Thick_Disk__Dark_Matter_Constraints__the_Collisional_Paradox__and_Observational_Forecasts.pdf

Hung Hsiang Chien
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
preprint

Phase_Space_Evolution_of_a_Substellar_Thick_Disk__Dark_Matter_Constraints__the_Collisional_Paradox__and_Observational_Forecasts.pdf

Hung Hsiang Chien
preprint en

Abstract

A recent hypothesis proposes that macroscopic interstellar objects (ISOs) could account for up to45% of the locally inferred dark matter budget. Here, a heuristic collisional constraint is introduced toevaluate the physical viability of this scenario. The required ISO number density is found to generatean integrated optical depth that introduces a severe physical tension when cross-referenced with thecontinuous telemetry maintained by deep-space heliopause probes, specifically Voyager 1, Voyager 2,and New Horizons, rendering the high-density ISO scenario inconsistent with empirical observations ata > 3σ confidence level. To resolve this collisional paradox, the galactic-scale spatial distribution andobservational signatures of an orbitally diffused, baryonic substellar population comprising free-floatingplanets (FFPs) and brown dwarfs (BDs) are modeled. Utilizing GPU-accelerated forward orbit integrationsof 2×108 particles over an 11 Gyr baseline within a realistic Galactic potential, it is demonstratedthat the vertical phase mixing of this population, initialized with system-ejection velocity dispersions,naturally establishes a thick-disk configuration. This evolved state is characterized by a vertical scaleheight of z0 ≈ 0.439 kpc and a vertical velocity dispersion of σz = 39.55 km/s at the solar radius. Subsequently,a 30,000-step Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) optimization framework is applied to fitthe Gaia DR3 Milky Way rotation curve under a physically anchored Gaussian prior on the substellarcentral normalization (σprior = 0.1 dex). Rather than measuring a direct alteration to the dark matterhalo, the inclusion of this kinematically relaxed substellar component quantifies a physically-allowedlocal baryonic reallocation fraction of Y = 1.21%+0.08%−0.07% within the local Galactic potential, whichtranslates to a complementary local baryonic mass density allocation of ∼ 8 × 10−4M⊙ pc−3. Thisstructural mass reallocation is highly decoupled from halo modeling uncertainties, remaining stableacross NFW, Einasto, and Burkert configurations (Y ∈ [1.15%, 1.32%]), and varies by only a factor of1.6 across a factor of 3.6 range in thick-disk vertical scale heights. Furthermore, the integrated thermalemission from this ancient, cold population (Teff ∼ 700 K) peaks at a monochromatic wavelength ofλpeak = 4.14 μm, contributing a monochromatic surface brightness of 0.143nWm−2 sr−1, or 1.43% ofthe absolute COBE/DIRBE 12 μm sky brightness limit. While this diffuse signature operates belowcurrent foreground confusion floors, spatial anisotropy mapping and angular power spectrum analysesvia upcoming wide-field space surveys present testable expectations and qualitative predictions toestablish independent empirical upper limits on the local substellar mass budget.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
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