Flat Galactic Rotation Curves Research Articles

Anisotropic model for dark matter halo with Hernquist density profile

Using the observed flat galactic rotation curve feature and taking into account the presence of anisotropic dark matter with a Hernquist density profile, the space-time geometry of the halo region in galaxies is derived. The gravitational field inside the halo is attractive in nature, and the resultant space-time is flat. We find that our solution affirms the existence of stable circular orbits in the dark halo region. The expression for the equation of state parameter indicates that the matter within the dark halo is non-exotic in nature. An analysis is also conducted on several other aspects of the solution.

Assessing the foundation and applicability of some dark energy fluid models in the Dirac–Born–Infeld framework

In this paper, we will deepen the understanding of some fluid models proposed by other authors for the description of dark energy. Specifically, we will show that the so-called (Modified) Berthelot fluid is the hydrodynamic realization of the free Dirac–Born–Infeld (DBI) theory and that the Dieterici fluid admits a nonrelativistic [Formula: see text]-essence formulation; for the former model the evolution of the scalar field will be written in terms of some cosmographic parameters. The latter model will also be tested using Machine Learning algorithms with respect to cosmic chronometers data, and results about the dynamics at a background level will be compared with those arising when other fluids (Generalized Chaplygin Gas and Anton-Schmidt) are considered. Due to some cosmic opacity effects, the background cosmology of universes filled by these inequivalent fluids, as they arise in physically different theories, may not be enough for discriminating among them. Thus, a perturbation analysis in the long-wavelength limit is carried out revealing a rich variety of possible behaviors. It will also be shown that the free DBI theory cannot account for flat galactic rotation curves, and therefore we derive an appropriate relationship between the scalar field potential and the brane tension for achieving this goal; this provides an estimate for the dark matter adiabatic speed of sound inside the halo consistent with other literature. A certain relationship between the Newtonian gravitational potential within the galaxy and the Lagrangian potential in the nonrelativistic regime for the (Modified) Berthelot fluid will also be enlightened.

Topological black holes in mimetic gravity

In this paper, we construct some new classes of topological black hole solutions in the context of mimetic gravity and investigate their properties. We study the uncharged and charged black holes, separately. We find the following novel results: (i) In the absence of a potential for the mimetic field, black hole solutions can address the flat rotation curves of spiral galaxies and alleviate the dark matter problem without invoking particle dark matter. Thus, mimetic gravity can provide a theoretical background for understanding flat galactic rotation curves through modifying Schwarzschild space–time. (ii) We also investigate the casual structure and physical properties of the solutions. We observe that in the absence of a potential, our solutions are not asymptotically flat, while in the presence of a negative constant potential for the mimetic field, the solutions are asymptotically anti-de Sitter (AdS). (iii) Finally, we explore the motion of massless and massive particles and give a list of the types of orbits. We study the differences of geodesic motion in the Einstein gravity and in mimetic gravity. In contrast to the Einstein gravity, massive particles always move on bound orbits and cannot escape the black hole in mimetic gravity. Furthermore, we find stable bound orbits for massless particles.

Gravitational lensing study of cold dark matter-led galactic halo

In this work, the spacetime geometry of the halo region in spiral galaxies is obtained considering the observed flat galactic rotation curve feature, invoking the Tully–Fisher relation and assuming the presence of cold dark matter in the galaxy. The gravitational lensing analysis is performed treating the so-obtained spacetime as a gravitational lens. It is found that the aforementioned spacetime as the gravitational lens can consistently explain the galaxy–galaxy weak gravitational lensing observations and the lensing observations of the well-known Abell 370 and Abell 2390 galaxy clusters.

On the Mannheim–Kazanas solution

We are considering the spacetime described by the metric proposed by Mannheim and Kazanas. The effective potential and the circular orbits are discussed. The rotational velocity derived from the geodesics equation agrees with the observed flat galactic rotation curves. Finally, solutions to the Gordon equation for massless bosons evolving in this spacetime are obtained in terms of Heun general functions.

The Flat Galactic Rotation Curves from First Principles: A Novel Logarithmic Potential Originating in Laplace’s Equation

Abstract This note reports flat galactic rotation curves coinciding with observation and originating in Laplace’s classical field equation. Dark matter, identified with a primordial fluid populating the entire universe, is represented by the homogeneous Klein–Gordon equation (KGE). The key element is the novel solution for the KGE discovered by the leading author in 1994, expressed as a permanent background  -potential plus an entangled  -potential where time and distance appear as a ratio. The  -potential may be viewed as solution to a non-homogeneous Laplace equation, for which the general solution contains in addition to Newton’s 1/r potential a new logarithmic Zwicky potential overlooked thus far. The ensuing 1/r-Zwicky force predicts the observed flat galatic rotation curves exhibiting the observed limiting speed at long distance.

Flat galactic rotation curves from geometry in Weyl gravity

We searched for a resolution of the flat galactic rotation curve problem from geometry instead of assuming the existence of dark matter. We observed that the scale independence of the rotational velocity in the outer region of galaxies could point out to a possible existence of local scale symmetry and therefore the gravitational phenomena inside such regions should be described by the unique local scale symmetric theory, namely Weyl's theory of gravity. We solved field equations of Weyl gravity and determined the special geometry in the outer region of galaxies. In order to understand the effective description of gravitational phenomena, we compared individual terms of so called Einstein-Weyl theory and concluded that while the outer region of galaxies are described by the Weyl term, the inner region of galaxies are described by the Einstein-Hilbert term.

New explanation for accelerated expansion and flat galactic rotation curves

Employing the non-additive Tsallis entropy, Ssim A^{beta }, for the large-scale gravitational systems, we disclose that in the cosmological scales both the Friedmann equation and the equation of motion for Newtonian cosmology get modified, respectively. We then derive the modified Newton’s law of gravitation which is valid on large scales. We show that, in the relativistic regime, the modified Friedmann equation admits an accelerated expansion, for a universe filled with ordinary matter, without invoking any kind of dark energy, provided the non-extensive parameter is chosen beta <1/2. In the non-relativistic regime, however, the modified Newton’s law of gravitation can explain the flat galactic rotation curves without invoking particle dark matter provided beta lesssim 1/2. Our study may be regarded as an alternative explanation for the “dark side of the universe”, through modification of the gravitational field equations.

Outer rotation curve of the Galaxy with VERA. IV. Astrometry of IRAS 01123+6430 and the possibility of cloud–cloud collision

Abstract As part our investigation into the Galactic rotation curve, we carried out Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations towards the star-forming region IRAS 01123+6430 using VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) to measure its annual parallax and proper motion. The annual parallax was measured to be 0.151 ± 0.042 mas, which corresponds to a distance of $D = 6.61^{+2.55}_{-1.44}\:{\rm kpc}$, and the obtained proper motion components were $(\mu _\alpha {\rm cos}\delta ,\, \mu _\delta ) = (-1.44 \pm 0.15,\, -0.27 \pm 0.16)\:{\rm mas\:yr^{-1}}$ in equatorial coordinates. Assuming Galactic constants of $(R_0,\, \Theta _0) = (8.05 \pm 0.45\:{\rm kpc},\, 238 \pm 14\:{\rm km\:s^{-1}})$, the Galactocentric distance and rotation velocity were measured to be $(R,\, \Theta ) = (13.04 \pm 2.24\:{\rm kpc},\, 239 \pm 22\:{\rm km\:s^{-1}})$, which are consistent with a flat Galactic rotation curve. The newly estimated distance provides a more accurate bolometric luminosity of the central young stellar object, $L_{\rm Bol} = (3.11 \pm 2.86) \times 10^{3}\, L_{\odot }$, which corresponds to a spectral type of B1–B2. Analysis of ${}^{12}{\rm{CO}}$ (J = 1–0) survey data obtained with the Five College Radio Astronomical Observatory (FCRAO) 14 m telescope shows that the molecular cloud associated with IRAS 01123+6430 consists of arc-like and linear components, which matches well a structure predicted by numerical simulation of the cloud–cloud collision phenomenon. The coexistence of arc-like and linear components implies that the relative velocity of the two initial clouds was as slow as 3–$5\:{\rm km\, s^{-1}}$, which meets the expected criteria of massive star formation where the core mass is effectively increased in the presence of low relative velocity (∼3–5 km s−1), as suggested by Takahira, Tasker, and Habe (2014, ApJ, 792, 63).

Possible formation of wormholes from dark matter in an isothermal galactic halo and void

It is well-known that traversable wormholes are valid solutions of the Einstein field equations, but these structures can only be maintained by violating the null energy condition. In this paper, we have obtained such wormhole solutions in an isothermal galactic halo, as well as in a void. We have shown that the null energy condition is violated, with the help of a suitable redshift function obtained from flat galactic rotation curves.

Resolving the distance controversy for Sharpless 269

Context. Sharpless 269 (S 269) is one of a few HII regions in the outer spiral arm of the Milky Way with strong water maser emission. Based on data from the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) array, two parallax measurements have been published, which differ by nearly 2σ. Each distance estimate supports a different structure for the outer arm. Moreover, given its large Galactocentric radii, S 269 has special relevance as its proper motion and parallax have been used to constrain the Galactic rotation curve at large radii.Aims. Using recent Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations, we accurately measure the parallax and proper motion of the water masers in S 269. We interpret the position and motion of S 269 in the context of Galactic structure, and possible optical counterparts.Methods. S 269’s 22 GHz water masers and two close by quasars were observed at 16 epochs between 2015 and 2016 using the VLBA. We calibrated the data by inverse phase referencing using the strongest maser spot. The parallax and proper motion were fitted using the standard protocols of the Bar and Spiral Structure Legacy survey.Results. We measure an annual parallax for S 269 of 0.241 ± 0.012 mas corresponding to a distance from the Sun of 4.15+0.22−0.20kpc by fitting four maser spots. The mean proper motion for S 269 was estimated as 0.16 ± 0.26 mas yr−1and −0.51 ± 0.26 mas yr−1forμαcosδandμδrespectively, which corresponds to the motion expected for a flat Galactic rotation curve at large radius. This distance estimate, Galactic kinematic simulations and observations of other massive young stars in the outer region support the existence of a kink in the outer arm atl ≈ 140°. Additionally, we find more than 2000 optical sources in the Gaia DR2 catalog within 125 pc radius around the 3D position of the water maser emission; from those only three sources are likely members of the same stellar association that contains the young massive star responsible for the maser emission (S 269 IRS 2w).

Strong lensing constraints on modified gravity models

We impose the first strong-lensing constraints on a wide class of modified gravity models where an extra field that modifies gravity also couples to photons (either directly or indirectly through a coupling with baryons) and thus modifies lensing. We use the nonsingular isothermal ellipsoid (NIE) profile as an effective potential, which produces flat galactic rotation curves. If a concrete modified gravity model gives a flat rotation curve, then the parameter $\Gamma$ that characterizes the lensing effect must take some definite value. We find that $\Gamma = 1.24\pm0.65$ at $1\sigma$, consistent with general relativity ($\Gamma = 1$). This constrains the parameter space in some recently proposed models.

Recovering a MOND-like acceleration law in mimetic gravity

We reconsider the recently proposed mimetic gravity, focusing in particular on whether the theory is able to reproduce the inferred flat rotation curves of galaxies. We extend the theory by adding a non-minimal coupling between matter and mimetic field. Such coupling leads to the appearance of an extra force which renders the motion of test particles non-geodesic. By studying the weak field limit of the resulting equations of motion, we demonstrate that in the Newtonian limit the acceleration law induced by the non-minimal coupling reduces to a modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND)-like one. In this way, it is possible to reproduce the successes of MOND, namely the explanation for the flat galactic rotation curves and the Tully–Fisher relation, within the framework of mimetic gravity, without the need for particle dark matter. The scale-dependence of the recovered acceleration scale opens up the possibility of addressing the missing mass problem not only on galactic but also on cluster scales: we defer a full study of this issue, together with a complete analysis of fits to spiral galaxy rotation curves, to an upcoming companion paper.

Galactic masers: Kinematics, spiral structure and the disk dynamic state

We applied the currently most comprehensive version of the statistical-parallax technique to derive kinematical parameters of the maser sample with 136 sources. Our kinematic model comprises the overall rotation of the Galactic disk and the spiral density-wave effects. We take into account the variation of radial velocity dispersion with Galactocentric distance. The best description of the velocity field is provided by the model with constant radial and vertical velocity dispersions, $(\sigma U0, \sigma W0) \approx (9.4 \pm 0.9~, 5.9 \pm 0.8)~ km/s$. We compute flat Galactic rotation curve over the Galactocentric distance interval from 3 to 15 kpc and find the local circular rotation velocity to be $ V_0 \approx (235-238)$~ km/s $\pm 7$~ km/s. We also determine the parameters of the four-armed spiral pattern (pitch angle $i \approx (-10.4 \pm 0.3)^\circ$ and the phase of the Sun $\chi_0 \approx (125 \pm 10) ^\circ$). The radial and tangential spiral perturbations are about $f_R \approx (-6.9 \pm 1.4)$~km/s, $f_\Theta \approx (+2.8 \pm 1.0$) ~km/s. The kinematic data yield a solar Galactocentric distance of $R_0 \approx (8.24 \pm 0.12)~kpc$. Based on rotation curve parameters and the asymmetric drift we Infer the exponential disk scale $H_D \approx (2.7 \pm 0.2)$ ~kpc under assumption of marginal stability of the intermediate-age disk, and finally we estimate the minimum local surface disk density, $\Sigma (R_0) > (26 \pm 3) ~ M_\odot pc^{-2}$.

The power of weak-field GR gravity

While general relativity (GR) is our premier theory of gravity, galactic dynamics from the outset has been studied with Newtonian gravity (NG), guided by the long-held belief in the idea of the “Newtonian-limit” of GR. This maintains that when the gravitational field is weak and the velocities are nonrelativistic, NG is the appropriate theory, apart from small corrections at best (such as in GPS tracking). However, there are simple examples of phenomena where there is no NG counterpart. We present a particularly simple new example of the stark difference that NG and weak-field GR exhibit for a modified van Stockum source, which speaks to the flat galactic rotation curve problem. We note that the linear GR compatibility equation in the literature is incomplete. Its completion is vital for our case, leading to a stark contrast between GR and NG for totally flat van Stockum rotation curves.

On claims that general relativity differs from Newtonian physics for self-gravitating dusts in the low velocity, weak field limit

Galaxy rotation curves are generally analyzed theoretically using Newtonian physics; however, two groups of authors have claimed that for self-gravitating dusts, general relativity (GR) makes significantly different predictions to Newtonian physics, even in the weak field, low velocity limit. One group has even gone so far as to claim that nonlinear general relativistic effects can explain flat galactic rotation curves without the need for cold dark matter. These claims seem to contradict the well-known fact that the weak field, low velocity, low pressure correspondence limit of GR is Newtonian gravity, as evidenced by solar system tests. Both groups of authors claim that their conclusions do not contradict this fact, with Cooperstock and Tieu arguing that the reason is that for the solar system, we have test particles orbiting a central gravitating body, whereas for a galaxy, each star is both an orbiting body and a contributor to the net gravitational field, and this supposedly makes a difference due to nonlinear general relativistic effects. Given the significance of these claims for analyses of the flat galactic rotation curve problem, this article compares the predictions of GR and Newtonian gravity for three cases of self-gravitating dusts for which the exact general relativistic solutions are known. These investigations reveal that GR and Newtonian gravity are in excellent agreement in the appropriate limits, thus supporting the conventional use of Newtonian physics to analyze galactic rotation curves. These analyses also reveal some sources of error in the referred to works.

Possible existence of wormholes in the galactic halo region

Two observational results, the density profile from simulations performed in the $\Lambda$CDM scenario and the observed flat galactic rotation curves, are taken as input with the aim of showing that the galactic halo possesses some of the characteristics needed to support traversable wormholes. This result should be sufficient to provide an incentive for scientists to seek observational evidence for wormholes in the galactic halo region.

Annual Parallax of the K-Type Star System IRAS 22480+6002 Measured with VERA

Abstract We present astrometric VLBI observations of H$_2$ O masers associated with IRAS 22480$+$ 6002 ($=$ IRC$+$ 60370, hereafter I22480) with the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA). The stellar type of I22480 looks unusual in stellar maser sources, and has been debated since the 1970's. We successfully determined that an annual parallax of a group of H$_2$ O maser spots is $\pi$$=$ 0.400 $\pm$ 0.025 mas, corresponding to a distance to I22480 of $D$$=$ 2.50$^{+0.17}_{-0.15}$ kpc. This suggests that an estimated bolometric luminosity of I22480 should be revised to 35000 $L_{\odot}$ , preferring a K-type supergiant to an RV Tau-type variable star, previously suggested. Although its spectral type is unusual in stellar maser sources, internal motions of H$_2$ O maser features suggest that the H$_2$ O masers are associated with the circumstellar envelope of this star. We derived a secular proper motion of I22480, ($\mu_{\alpha}$ , $\mu_{\delta}$ ) $=$ ($-$ 2.58 $\pm$ 0.33, $-$ 1.91 $\pm$ 0.17) [mas yr$^{-1}$ ], from a possible stellar motion relative to the maser feature motion. The derived motion of I22480 in the Milky Way has a deviation of $\sim-$ 30 km s$^{-1}$ in the Galactic azimuthal direction from the circular motion, estimated from a galactocentric distance to I22480 and an assumption of a flat Galactic rotation curve. This peculiar motion is still comparable to those typically seen in H$_2$ O maser sources located in the Perseus Arm. Taking into account its peculiar motion and proximity to the Galactic midplane (z$\simeq$ 60 pc), I22480 may be a member of the Galactic thin disk.

DISTANCE AND PROPER MOTION MEASUREMENT OF THE RED SUPERGIANT, S PERSEI, WITH VLBI H2O MASER ASTROMETRY

We have conducted VLBA phase-referencing monitoring of H2O masers around the red supergiant, S Persei, for six years. We have fitted maser motions to a simple expanding-shell model with a common annual parallax and stellar proper motion, and obtained the annual parallax as 0.413+/-0.017 mas, and the stellar proper motion as (-0.49+/-0.23 mas/yr, -1.19+/-0.20 mas/yr) in right ascension and declination, respectively. The obtained annual parallax corresponds to the trigonometric distance of 2.42+0.11-0.09 kpc. Assuming the Galactocentric distance of the Sun of 8.5 kpc, the circular rotational velocity of the LSR at the distance of the Sun of 220 km/s, and a flat Galactic rotation curve, S Persei is suggested to have a non-circular motion deviating from the Galactic circular rotation for 15 km/s, which is mainly dominated by the anti rotation direction component of 12.9+/-2.9 km/s. This red supergiant is thought to belong to the OB association, Per OB1, so that this non-circular motion is representative of a motion of the OB association in the Milky Way. This non-circular motion is somewhat larger than that explained by the standard density-wave theory for a spiral galaxy, and is attributed to either a cluster shuffling of the OB association, or to non-linear interactions between non-stationary spiral arms and multi-phase interstellar media. The latter comes from a new view of a spiral arm formation in the Milky Way suggested by recent large N-body/smoothed particle hydrodynamics numerical simulations.

Mass distributions implying flat galactic rotation curves

The rotational speeds of stars in the disc of a spiral galaxy are virtually independent of the distances of the stars from the centre of the galaxy. In common parlance, the stellar speed versus distance plot known as a galactic rotation curve is by observation typically nearly flat. This observation provides strong evidence that most galactic matter is dark, i.e. undetectable through luminosity measurements. This article is intended to serve the pedagogical purpose of using the dark matter problem as the basis of exercises accessible to university students. Gauss's law is first used to explain why luminosity measurements lead to the prediction of incorrect speed distributions for disc stars in spiral galaxies. The question of how mass can be distributed within a galaxy to enable flat rotation curves is then considered. Gauss's law concisely answers this question for an idealized galaxy with spherical symmetry. For an idealized planar galaxy with circular symmetry, constructing and evaluating an integral for the gravitational field as a function of distance from the centre of the galaxy provides the answer to the question.