Is there a fundamental acceleration scale in galaxies?

Abstract

Milgrom's modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) can explain well the mass discrepancy problem in galaxy without invoking dark matter. The MOND theory predicts a universal constant acceleration scale in galaxy, below which the Newtonian dynamics is no longer valid. Recently, Rodrigues et al. analyzed 193 high-quality disk galaxies by using Bayesian inference and they concluded that the probability of existence of a fundamental acceleration scale is essentially 0. In this paper, we use the same method to revisit the same question: Is there a fundamental acceleration scale in galaxies? We fit each galaxy rotation curve of 175 SPARC galaxies with Gaussian priors on galaxy parameters and a variable acceleration scale. After marginalizing over the nuisance parameters, we find that the marginalized posterior distributions of the acceleration scale become broad. The incompatibility between the global best fit and the marginalized posterior distributions of the acceleration scale is greatly reduced. However, there still exists evidence that rejects MOND as a fundamental theory. More accurate observations are needed to exclude or confirm the existence of a fundamental acceleration scale in galaxies.

arXiv comment10 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables

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• The radial acceleration relation in galaxy clusters
• Testing cosmic anisotropy with Pantheon sample and quasars at high redshifts
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• A fundamental test for MOND
• Constraining the anisotropy of the Universe with the X-ray and UV fluxes of quasars
• Normalized additional velocity distribution: testing the radial profile of dark matter halos and MOND
• Heat capacity of Holographic screen inspires MOND theory
• A cautionary tale in fitting galaxy rotation curves with Bayesian techniques: does Newton's constant vary from galaxy to galaxy?
• A test of Radial Acceleration Relation for the {\it Giles et al Chandra} cluster sample
• A test of constancy of dark matter halo surface density and radial acceleration relation in relaxed galaxy groups
• Reply to: Overconfidence in Bayesian analyses of galaxy rotation curves
• A new perspective on galactic dynamics
• On a Generalized Mass-Velocity Relation for Disk Galaxies and Galaxy Clusters
• Mining the SPARC Galaxy Database: Finding "Hidden Variables" in the Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation
• A Toy Model for the Dynamical Discrepancies on Galactic Scales
• On the absence of a universal surface density, and a maximum Newtonian acceleration in dark matter haloes: consequences for MOND