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Combining rotation curves and gravitational lensing: How to measure the equation of state of dark matter in the galactic halo

Tristan Faber·Matt Visser
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Abstract

We argue that combined observations of galaxy rotation curves and gravitational lensing not only allow the deduction of a galaxy's mass profile, but also yield information about the pressure in the galactic fluid. We quantify this statement by enhancing the standard formalism for rotation curve and lensing measurements to a first post-Newtonian approximation. This enhanced formalism is compatible with currently employed and established data analysis techniques, and can in principle be used to reinterpret existing data in a more general context. The resulting density and pressure profiles from this new approach can be used to constrain the equation of state of the galactic fluid, and therefore might shed new light on the persistent question of the nature of dark matter.

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Tristan Faber, Matt Visser. 2006-07-18. Combining rotation curves and gravitational lensing: How to measure the equation of state of dark matter in the galactic halo. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10845.x

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