English

The Futile Search for Galactic Disk Dark Matter

Astrophysics of Galaxies 2016-08-14 v1

Abstract

Several approaches have been used to search for dark matter in our galactic disk, but with mixed results: {\em maybe yes and maybe no}. The prevailing approach, integrating the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for tracer stars, has led to more definitive results: {\em yes and no}. The touchstone {\em yes} analysis of Bahcall et al. (1992) has subsequently been confirmed or refuted by various other investigators. This has been our motivation for approaching the search from a different direction: applying the Virial Theorem to extant data. We conclude that the vertical density profile of the disk is not in a state of equilbrium and, therefore, that the Poisson-Boltzmann approach is inappropriate and it thereby leads to indefensible conclusions.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1009.0925,
  title  = {The Futile Search for Galactic Disk Dark Matter},
  author = {José Luis G. Pestaña and Donald H. Eckhardt},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1009.0925},
  year   = {2016}
}

Comments

Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

R2 v1 2026-06-21T16:09:42.592Z