Using distant globular clusters as a test for gravitational theories

Abstract

We propose to determine the stellar velocity dispersions of globular clusters in the outer halo of the Milky Way in order to decide whether the dynamics of the universe on large scales is governed by dark matter or modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND). We show that for a number of galactic globular clusters, both the internal and the external accelerations are significantly below the critical acceleration parameter $a_0$ of MOND. This leads to velocity dispersions in case of MOND which exceed their Newtonian counterparts by up to a factor of 3, providing a stringent test for MOND. Alternatively, in case high velocity dispersions are found, these would provide the first evidence that globular clusters are dark matter dominated.

5 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in MNRAS

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Cited by in corpus (28)

• Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND): Observational Phenomenology and Relativistic Extensions
• Modified Newtonian Dynamics in the Milky Way
• Galaxies as simple dynamical systems: observational data disfavor dark matter and stochastic star formation
• Testing the Strong Equivalence Principle: Detection of the External Field Effect in Rotationally Supported Galaxies
• The non-peculiar velocity dispersion profile of the stellar system omega Centauri
• Asymmetrical tidal tails of open star clusters: stars crossing their cluster's prah challenge Newtonian gravitation
• Stellar streams as gravitational experiments II. Asymmetric tails of globular cluster streams
• Testing fundamental physics with distant star clusters: theoretical models for pressure-supported stellar systems
• Probable member stars of the gravitational theory-testing globular clusters AM 1, Pal 3 and Pal 14
• Reconciling MOND and dark matter?
• Roche Lobe Shapes for testing MOND-like Modified Gravity
• All quiet in the outer halo: chemical abundances in the globular cluster Pal 3
• Globular clusters in modified Newtonian dynamics: velocity-dispersion profiles from self-consistent models
• The relation between stellar mass and weak lensing signal around galaxies: Implications for MOND
• Testing Newtonian gravity in the low acceleration regime with globular clusters: the case of omega Centauri revisited
• Probing the boundary between star clusters and dwarf galaxies: A MUSE view on the dynamics of Crater/Laevens I
• Mass segregation in the outer halo globular cluster Palomar 14
• The dynamical phase transitions of stellar systems and the corresponding kinetimacs
• The MOND External Field Effect on the Dynamics of the Globular Clusters: General Considerations and Application to NGC 2419
• Dwarf Galaxies, MOND, and Relativistic Gravitation
• Scale-invariant dynamics in the Solar System
• Gas expulsion in MOND: the possible origin of diffuse globular clusters and ultra-faint dwarf galaxies
• Dark Coincidences: Small-Scale Solutions with Refracted Gravity and MOND
• On the problem of deformed spherical systems in Modified Newtonian Dynamics
• The kinematics of star clusters undergoing gas expulsion in Newtonian and Milgromian dynamics
• Observational dynamics of low-mass stellar systems
• Refracted Gravity Solutions from Small to Large Scales
• Testing QUMOND theory with Galactic globular clusters in a weak external field