arXiv subjects

Robert H. Sanders

Publications and source records attributed to Robert H. Sanders.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Dark matter -- Modified dynamics: Reaction vs. Prediction

The dark energy-cold dark matter paradigm ($Λ$CDM) has gained widespread acceptance because it explains the pattern of anisotropies observed in the cosmic microwave background radiation, the observed distribution of large scale inhomogeneities in detectable matter, and the perceived overall expansion history of the Universe. It is further {\it assumed} that the cosmic dark matter component clusters on the scale of bound astronomical systems and thereby accounts for the observed difference between the directly detectable (baryonic) mass and the total Newtonian dynamical mass. In this respect the paradigm fails; it is falsified by the existence of a simple algorithm, modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND), which explains, not only general scaling relations for astronomical systems, but quite precisely predicts the effective gravitational acceleration in such objects from the observed distribution of detectable baryonic matter -- all of this with one additional universal parameter having units of acceleration. On this sub-Hubble scale, the dark matter hypothesis is essentially reactive, while MOND is successfully predictive.

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arXiv2017

Perspective on MOND emergence from Verlinde's "emergent gravity" and its recent test by weak lensing

We highlight phenomenological aspects of Verlinde's recent proposal to account for the mass anomalies in galactic systems without dark matter -- in particular in their relation to MOND. Welcome addition to the MOND lore as it is, this approach have reproduced, so far, only a small fraction of MOND phenomenology, and is still rather tentative, both in its theoretical foundations and in its phenomenology. What Verlinde has extracted from this approach, so far, is a formula -- of rather limited applicability, and with no road to generalization in sight -- for the effective gravitational field of a spherical, isolated, static baryonic system. This formula cannot be used to calculate the gravitational field of disk galaxies, with their rich MOND phenomenology. Notably, it cannot predict their rotation curves, except asymptotically. It does not apply to the few-, or many-body problem; so, it cannot give, e.g., the two-body force between two galaxies, or be used to conduct N-body calculations of galaxy formation, evolution, and interactions. The formula cannot be applied to the internal dynamics of a system embedded in an external field, where MOND predicts important consequences. etc. MOND is backed by full-fledged, Lagrangian theories that can be, and are, routinely applied to all the above phenomena, and more. Verlinde's formula, as it now stands, strongly conflicts with solar-system and possibly earth-surface constraints, and cannot fully account for the mass anomalies in the cores of galaxy clusters (a standing conundrum in MOND). The recent weak-lensing test of the formula is, in fact, testing a cornerstone prediction of MOND, one that the formula does reproduce, and which has been tested before in the very same way.

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arXiv2011

TeVeS/MOND is in harmony with gravitational redshifts in galaxy clusters

Wojtak, Hansen and Hjorth have recently claimed to confirm general relativity and to rule out the tensor-vector-scalar (TeVeS) gravitational theory based on an analysis of the gravitational redshifts of galaxies in 7800 clusters. But their ubiquitous modeling of the sources of cluster gravitational fields with Navarro-Frenk-White mass profiles is neither empirically justified out to the necessary radii in clusters, nor germane in the case of TeVeS. Using MONDian isothermal sphere models consistently constructed within MOND (equivalent to TeVeS models), we can fit the determined redshifts no worse than does general relativity with dark halos. Wojtak, Hansen and Hjorth's work is further marred by confusion between the primitive mu-function of TeVeS and the MOND interpolation function.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

Rings and shells of "dark matter" as MOND artifacts

MOND predicts that a mass, M, contained within its transition radius r_t=(MG/a0)^{1/2}, may exhibit a feature at about that radius in the form of a shell, or projected ring, in the deduced distribution of its phantom dark matter. This occurs despite the absence of any underlying feature in the true (``baryon'') source distribution itself. The phenomenon is similar to the appearance of an event horizon and other unusual physics ``in the middle of nothing'' near the transition radius of General Relativity $MG/c^2$. We consider the possibility that this pure MOND phenomenon is in the basis of the recent finding of such a ring in the galaxy cluster Cl 0024+17 by Jee et al. We find that the parameters of the observed ring can be naturally explained in this way; this feature may therefore turn out to be a direct evidence for MOND. We study this phenomenon in simple, axisymmetric configurations aligned with the line of sight: spherical masses, a dumbbell of spherical masses, and an elongated, thin structure. The properties of the apparent ring: its radius, surface density, and contrast, depend on the form of the MOND interpolating function and on the exact three dimensional distribution of the sources (the thin-lens approximation is quite invalid in MOND). We also comment on the possible appearance of orphan features, marking the Newtonian-to-MOND transition, in high surface brightness galaxies. In particular, we find that previously unexplained structure in the rotation curves of some galaxies may be evidence for such features.

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arXiv2006

MOND rotation curves of very low mass spiral galaxies

We present MOND analysis for several of the lowest mass disc galaxies currently amenable to such analysis--with (baryonic) masses below 4x10^8 solar masses. The agreement is good, extending the validity of MOND and its predicted mass velocity relation, to such low masses.

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arXiv2005

A Primer to Relativistic MOND Theory

We first review the nonrelativistic lagrangian theory as a framework for the MOND equation. Obstructions to a relativistic version of it are discussed leading up to TeVeS, a relativistic tensor-vector-scalar field theory which displays both MOND and Newtonian limits. The whys for its particular structure are discussed and its achievements so far are summarized.

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arXiv2004

MOND predictions of "halo" phenomenology in disc galaxies

We examine two corollaries of MOND pertaining to the properties of the equivalent dark-matter halo. MOND predicts for pure exponential discs a tight relation involving the halo and disc scale lengths and the mean acceleration in the disc, which we find to test favorably against the Verheijen sample of Ursa Major galaxies. A correlation between halo and disc length scales is also apparent when the "maximum disc" contribution is assumed, but we demonstrate that this follows from the more general MOND prediction. The second MOND prediction involves the existence of a maximum halo acceleration, which also tests favorably against the Ursa Major sample for different assumptions on the disc contribution.

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arXiv2003

MOND and the "Dearth of Dark Matter in Ordinary Elliptical Galaxies"

The recent findings of Romanowsky et al., of an ``unexpectedly'' small mass discrepancy within 5 effective radii in several elliptical galaxies, are not surprising in the context of MOND. As we show here, they are, in fact, in full concordance with its predictions. One is dealing with high-surface-density galaxies with mean accelerations rather larger than the acceleration constant of MOND. These findings continue, and are now the extreme examples of, the trend predicted by MOND: the mass discrepancy sets in at larger and larger scaled radii in galaxies with larger and larger mean surface densities; or, equivalently, mean accelerations.

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arXiv2002

MOND rotation curves for spiral galaxies with Cepheid-based distances

Rotation curves for four spiral galaxies with recently determined Cepheid-based distances are reconsidered in terms of modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND). For two of the objects, NGC 2403 and NGC 7331, the rotation curves predicted by MOND are compatible with the observed curves when these galaxies are taken to be at the Cepheid distance. For NGC 3198, the largest distance for which reasonable agreement is obtained is 10% smaller than the Cepheid-based distance; i.e., MOND clearly prefers a smaller distance. This conclusion is unaltered when new near-infrared photometry of NGC 3198 is taken as the tracer of the stellar mass distribution. For the large Sc spiral, NGC 2841, MOND requires a distance which is at least 20% larger than the Cepheid-based distance. However, the discrepancy of the Tully-Fisher and SNIa distances with the Cepheid determination casts some doubt upon the Cepheid method in this case.

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arXiv2002

Modified Newtonian Dynamics as an Alternative to Dark Matter

Modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) is an empirically motivated modification of Newtonian gravity or inertia suggested by Milgrom as an alternative to cosmic dark matter. The basic idea is that at accelerations below a0 ~ 10^{-8} cm/s^2 ~ cH0/6 the effective gravitational attraction approaches sqrt{gN*a0} where gN is the usual Newtonian acceleration. This simple algorithm yields flat rotation curves for spiral galaxies and a mass-rotation velocity relation of the form M ~ V^4 that forms the basis for the observed luminosity-rotation velocity relation-- the Tully-Fisher law. We review the phenomenological success of MOND on scales ranging from dwarf spheroidal galaxies to superclusters, and demonstrate that the evidence for dark matter can be equally well interpreted as evidence for MOND. We discuss the possible physical basis for an acceleration-based modification of Newtonian dynamics as well as the extension of MOND to cosmology and structure formation.

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arXiv1993

Gravitational Lenses and Unconventional Gravity Theories

We study gravitational lensing by clusters of galaxies in the context of the generic class of unconventional gravity theories of the scalar--tensor type. For positive energy scalar fields with any dynamics, the bending of light by a weakly gravitating system (galaxy or cluster) is always smaller than the bending predicted by general relativity for the mass of visible and hitherto undetected matter (but excluding the scalar field energy). The same conclusion obtains within general relativity if a nonnegligible part of the mass in clusters is in coherent scalar fields, {\it i.e.\/} Higgs fields. Thus the observational claim that clusters of galaxies deflect light much more strongly than would be expected from the observable matter contained by them, cannot be interpreted in terms of some scalar-tensor unconventional gravity theory with no dark matter. If the observations eventually show that the matter distribution inferred via general relativity from the lensing is very much like that determined from the dynamics of test objects, then scalar--tensor unconventional gravity will be irrelevant for understanding the mass discrepancy in clusters. However, even a single system in which the dynamically determined mass significantly exceeds the lensing mass suggested by general relativity, would be very problematic for the dark matter picture, but would be entirely consistent with unconventional scalar--tensor gravity.

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