Spiral Galaxy Rotation Curves Without Dark Matter or MOND -- Two Conjectures

Abstract

Usual explanations of spiral galaxy rotation curves assume circular orbits of stars. The consequences of giving up this assumption are investigated here. In particular, hyperbolic stellar trajectories are found to be interesting. The two suggested models for the production of such trajectories will also explain the observed flat rotation curves without the postulation of dark matter or MOND. It is suggested that spiral galaxies may have started as compact objects with significant angular momenta and then disintegrated. The first model conjectures the existence of a spinning hot disk around a spherical galactic core. The disk is held together by local gravity and electromagnetic scattering forces. However, it disintegrates at the edge producing fragments that form stars. Once separated from the disk, the stars experience only the centrally directed gravitational force due to the massive core and remaining disk. A numerical simulation shows that a high enough angular velocity of the disk produces hyperbolic stellar trajectories that agree with the observed rotation curves. The second model conjectures a significant initial thermonuclear event that produces a dust plume along with large stars. This dust plume is made of ordinary matter. However, it acts like the postulated dark matter in producing initial circular trajectories. Unlike dark matter, the plume can be shown to escape the galaxy rapidly causing the star trajectories to evolve to hyperbolic shapes. This process can be seen to produce the observed rotation curves due to the initial circular orbits. Also, as the plume dissipates rapidly it does not obfuscate the stars from view. Both models have weaknesses as do the currently known models using dark matter or MOND.