Fitting galactic rotation curves with conformal gravity and a global quadratic potential

被引:131
作者
Mannheim, Philip D. [1 ]
O'Brien, James G. [2 ]
机构
[1] Univ Connecticut, Dept Phys, Storrs, CT 06269 USA
[2] Wentworth Inst Technol, Dept Appl Math & Sci, Boston, MA 02115 USA
来源
PHYSICAL REVIEW D | 2012年 / 85卷 / 12期
基金
美国国家航空航天局;
关键词
SURFACE BRIGHTNESS GALAXIES; SCULPTOR GROUP GALAXIES; URSA-MAJOR CLUSTER; MODIFIED NEWTONIAN DYNAMICS; STAR-FORMATION THRESHOLDS; WESTERBORK HI SURVEY; DARK-MATTER; SPIRAL GALAXIES; IRREGULAR GALAXIES; NEUTRAL HYDROGEN;
D O I
10.1103/PhysRevD.85.124020
中图分类号
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号
0704 ;
摘要
We apply the conformal gravity theory to a sample of 111 spiral galaxies whose rotation curve data points extend well beyond the optical disk. With no free parameters other than galactic mass-to-light ratios, the theory is able to account for the systematics that is observed in this entire set of rotation curves without the need for any dark matter at all. In previous applications of the theory, a central role was played by a universal linear potential term V(r) = gamma(0)c(2)r/2 that is generated through the effect of cosmology on individual galaxies, with the coefficient gamma(0) = 3.06 X 10(-30) cm(-1) being of cosmological magnitude. Because the current sample is so big and encompasses some specific galaxies whose data points go out to quite substantial distances from galactic centers, we are able to identify an additional globally induced universal term in the data, a quadratic V(r) = -kc(2)r(2)/2 term that is induced by inhomogeneities in the cosmic background. With k being found to be of magnitude k = 9.54 X 10(-54) cm(-2), through study of the motions of particles contained within galaxies we are thus able to both detect the presence of a global de Sitter-like component and provide a specific value for its strength. Our study suggests that invoking dark matter may be nothing more than an attempt to describe global physics effects such as these in purely local galactic terms.
引用
收藏
页数:26
相关论文
共 101 条
[41]   DARK MATTER IN SPIRAL GALAXIES .2. GALAXIES WITH HI ROTATION CURVES [J].
KENT, SM .
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL, 1987, 93 (04) :816-832
[42]  
Kim J. H., 2007, THESIS U MARYLAND
[43]   THE DISTRIBUTION OF DARK MATTER IN THE DWARF GALAXY DDO-170 [J].
LAKE, G ;
SCHOMMER, RA ;
VANGORKOM, JH .
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL, 1990, 99 (02) :547-&
[44]   Structure and dynamics of giant low surface brightness galaxies [J].
Lelli, F. ;
Fraternali, F. ;
Sancisi, R. .
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, 2010, 516
[45]   THE STAR FORMATION EFFICIENCY IN NEARBY GALAXIES: MEASURING WHERE GAS FORMS STARS EFFECTIVELY [J].
Leroy, Adam K. ;
Walter, Fabian ;
Brinks, Elias ;
Bigiel, Frank ;
de Blok, W. J. G. ;
Madore, Barry ;
Thornley, M. D. .
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL, 2008, 136 (06) :2782-2845
[46]  
Mannheim P. D., ARXIVASTROPH9504022
[47]   CONFORMAL GRAVITY AND THE FLATNESS PROBLEM [J].
MANNHEIM, PD .
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 1992, 391 (02) :429-432
[48]   Are galactic rotation curves really flat? [J].
Mannheim, PD .
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 1997, 479 (02) :659-664
[49]   CONFORMAL COSMOLOGY WITH NO COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT [J].
MANNHEIM, PD .
GENERAL RELATIVITY AND GRAVITATION, 1990, 22 (03) :289-298
[50]   EXACT VACUUM SOLUTION TO CONFORMAL WEYL GRAVITY AND GALACTIC ROTATION CURVES [J].
MANNHEIM, PD ;
KAZANAS, D .
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 1989, 342 (02) :635-638