Stellar kinematics from the symmetron fifth force in the Milky Way disk

Abstract

It has been shown that the presence of non-minimally coupled scalar fields giving rise to a fifth force can noticeably alter dynamics on galactic scales. Such a fifth force must be screened in the Solar System but if unscreened it can have a similar observational effects as a component of non-baryonic matter. We consider this possibility in the context of the vertical motions of local stars in the Milky Way disk by reframing a methodology used to measure the local density of dark matter. By attempting to measure the properties of the symmetron field required to support vertical velocities we can test it as a theory of modified gravity and understand the behaviour of screened scalar fields in galaxies. In particular this relatively simple setup allows the symmetron field profile to be solved for model parameters where the equation of motion becomes highly nonlinear and difficult to solve in other contexts. We update the existing Solar System constraints for this scenario and find a region of parameter space not already excluded that can explain the vertical motions of local stars out to heights of 1 kpc. At larger heights the force due to the symmetron field profile exhibits a characteristic turn over which would allow the model to be distinguished from a dark matter halo.

12 pages, 7 figures

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Cited by in corpus (27)

• Symmetron Scalar Fields: Modified Gravity, Dark Matter or Both?
• Open quantum dynamics induced by light scalar fields
• Galaxy rotation curves in modified gravity models
• The Classical Symmetron Force in Casimir Experiments
• The splashback radius in symmetron gravity
• Screened Scalar Fields in the Laboratory and the Solar System
• Lensing with generalized symmetrons
• Quantum Chameleons
• Dilaton-induced open quantum dynamics
• Emergent long-range interactions in Bose-Einstein Condensates
• Fifth-Force Screening around Extremely Compact Sources
• Search for environment-dependent dilatons
• Detecting Domain Walls in Laboratory Experiments
• Searching for Chameleon Dark Energy with Mechanical Systems
• Influence functionals, decoherence and conformally coupled scalars
• Accurate Computation of the Screening of Scalar Fifth Forces in Galaxies
• Search for dark energy with neutron interferometry
• Imprints of screened dark energy on nonlocal quantum correlations
• Particle level screening of scalar forces in 1+1 dimensions
• Frequency shifts induced by light scalar fields
• Dynamical cluster masses from photometric surveys
• Dynamical Casimir effect with screened scalar fields
• Quantum and thermal pressures from light scalar fields
• Equivalence of scalar-tensor theories and scale-dependent gravity
• Astro- and Quantum Physical Tests of Screened Scalar Fields
• Fifth forces and discrete symmetry breaking
• Fullshape power spectrum for the Symmetron modified gravity model