The virial theorem for retarded gravity

Abstract

Galaxy Clusters are huge physical systems having a generic size of tens of millions of light years. Thus any modification at the center of the cluster will affect the outskirts only tens of millions of years afterwards. Those retardation considerations seem to be neglected in present day analysis used to estimate the total mass of the galaxy cluster, including those estimates which are based on the virial theorem. The significant differences between the velocities predicted by Newtonian action at a distance theory and observations are usually dealt with by either assuming an unobservable type of matter or by modifying gravity. Here we demonstrate that considering general relativistic effects one can explain the apparent excess matter appearing in galaxy clusters virial estimates.