Sophia Cisneros (Denver)

Date: Tue. November 16th, 2021, 11:30 pm-12:30 pm
Location: Foldy room

Clock Effects as explanation for the flat-rotation curve problem

The flat-rotation curve problem of spiral galaxies is commonly addressed by either Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) or Dark Matter models (DM). Both approaches interpret the observations of shifted spectra as physical orbital velocities by the Lorentz Doppler formula, velocities which diverge from the expectations from luminous mass at large radii.  Both approaches require new physics. We present a new relativistic approach, in which the Doppler shifted frequencies are not interpreted as physical velocities, but rather as frame effects due to our observation point in a rotating Milky Way galaxy.  These clock effects transition the MONDian idea of changing acceleration scales to a 3+1 spacetime framework of changing relative galaxy curvatures, by stitching together the Killing fields of two galaxies at the level of the potential. This rotation curve fitting model (RCFM) does not modify classical gravity, but adds a new technique applicable in the regime of weak fields. 

We show fitting results for the SPARC sample of galaxies, in which we identify our free parameter and make a suggestion of a zero parameter model  for  the flat rotation curve problem of spiral galaxies.