Galactic Dynamics via General Relativity: A Compilation and New Developments

Oct, 2006
35 pages
Published in:
  • Int.J.Mod.Phys.A 22 (2007) 2293-2325
e-Print:

Citations per year

2006201120162021202402468
Abstract: (arXiv)
We consider the consequences of applying general relativity to the description of the dynamics of a galaxy, given the observed flattened rotation curves. The galaxy is modeled as a stationary axially symmetric pressure-free fluid. In spite of the weak gravitational field and the non-relativistic source velocities, the mathematical system is still seen to be non-linear. It is shown that the rotation curves for various galaxies as examples are consistent with the mass density distributions of the visible matter within essentially flattened disks. This obviates the need for a massive halo of exotic dark matter. We determine that the mass density for the luminous threshold as tracked in the radial direction is 1021.7510^{-21.75} kg\cdotm3^{-3} for these galaxies and conjecture that this will be the case for other galaxies yet to be analyzed. We present a velocity dispersion test to determine the extent, if of any significance, of matter that may lie beyond the visible/HI region. Various comments and criticisms from colleagues are addressed.