The cold dark matter (CDM) model has been remarkably successful in explaining the large-scale structure of the Universe and the properties of galaxies. However, it's likely an approximation, and a wider range of dark matter candidates such as warm, fuzzy, and self-interacting dark matter are now being explored.

To push our understanding forward, it is crucial to test the predictions of the CDM model against observations. A powerful way to do this is by studying low surface brightness (LSB) features, which include faint stellar streams and very low-mass galaxies. These features, with their extremely low stellar densities, are at the very limits of current observational capabilities but are excellent probes of the underlying dark matter distribution.

The last 20 years have seen significant progress in the study of the LSB Universe thanks to advancements in both observations and theory. Improved observational techniques and instrumentation have enabled astronomers to uncover a universe previously hidden. In particular, the upcoming deep surveys such as LSST, Euclid and ARRAKIHS, are poised to revolutionize this field, providing the statistics that are currently needed. On the theoretical side, a new generation of cosmological simulations is providing the tools needed to interpret these new observations.

This session will bridge the gap between these LSB observations and the theoretical models they constrain. These complementary advancements in observation and theory are creating a powerful synergy, pushing the field into a new era of discovery. Our goal is to unveil this previously hidden LSB universe by bringing together leading experts in both theory and observation.

Programme

We plan to bring together researchers from the observational and theoretical communities to facilitate a comprehensive discussion on the following key topics:

• LSB galaxies and stellar halos as galactic-scale dark matter tracers
• Intragroup and intracluster light as large-scale probes of dark matter
• Constraints on exotic dark matter models

Invited speakers

TBC

Scientific organisers

Enrichetta Iodice (INAF-Capodimonte), Pavel Mancera Piña (Leiden Observatory), Mireia Montes (ICE-CSIC, chair), Annika Peter (Ohio State University), Justin Read (University of Surrey), Jorge Sánchez Almeida (IAC)

Contact

Mireia Montes : mmontes (at) ice.csic.es