English

Central-surface-densities correlation in general MOND theories

Astrophysics of Galaxies 2024-06-07 v2 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Physics - Phenomenology

Abstract

It is shown that the foundational axioms of MOND alone predict a strong correlation between a bulk measure of the baryonic surface density, ΣB\Sigma_B, and the corresponding dynamical one, ΣD\Sigma_D, of an isolated object, such as a galaxy. The correlation is encapsulated by its high- and low-ΣB\Sigma_B behaviors. For ΣBΣMa0/2πG\Sigma_B\gg\Sigma_M\equiv a_0/2\pi G (ΣM\Sigma_M is the critical MOND surface density) one has ΣDΣB\Sigma_D\approx\Sigma_B. Their difference -- which would be interpreted as the contribution of dark matter -- is ΣP=ΣDΣBΣMΣB\Sigma_P=\Sigma_D-\Sigma_B\sim\Sigma_M\ll\Sigma_B. In the deep-MOND limit, ΣBΣM\Sigma_B\ll\Sigma_M, one has ΣD(ΣMΣB)1/2\Sigma_D\sim (\Sigma_M\Sigma_B)^{1/2}. This is a primary prediction of MOND, shared by all theories that embody its basic tenets. Sharper correlations, even strict algebraic relations, ΣD(ΣB)\Sigma_D(\Sigma_B), are predicted in specific MOND theories, for specific classes of mass distribution -- e.g., pure discs, or spherical systems -- and for specific definitions of the surface densities. I proceed to discuss such tighter correlations for the central surface densities of axisymmetric galactic systems, ΣB0\Sigma^0_B and ΣD0\Sigma^0_D. Past work has demonstrated such relations for pure discs in the AQUAL and QUMOND theories. Here I consider them in broader classes of MOND theories. For most observed systems, ΣD0\Sigma^0_D can not be determined directly at present, but, in many cases, a good proxy for it is the acceleration integral G0grdln r\mathcal{G}\equiv\int_0^\infty g_r d\ln~r, where grg_r is the radial acceleration along a reflection-symmetry plane of a system, such as a disc galaxy. G\mathcal{G} can be determined directly from the rotation curve. I discuss the extent to which G\mathcal{G} is a good proxy for ΣD0\Sigma^0_D, and how the relation between them depends on system geometry, from pure discs, through disc-plus-bulge ones, to quasi-spherical systems.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2402.07159,
  title  = {Central-surface-densities correlation in general MOND theories},
  author = {Mordehai Milgrom},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2402.07159},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

22 pages, matching the published version

R2 v1 2026-06-28T14:45:16.602Z