A scalar field modelling of the rotational curves of spiral galaxies

Abstract

In a previous work \cite{mbeleka}, we have modelled the rotation curves (RC) of spiral galaxies by including in the equation of motion dynamical terms from an external real self-interacting scalar field, $\varphi$, minimally coupled to gravity and which respects the equivalence principle in the absence of electromagnetic fields. This model appears to have three free parameters : the turnover radius, $r_0$, the maximum rotational velocity, $v_{max}=v(r_0)$, plus a strictly positive integer, $n$. Here, the coupling of the $\varphi$-field to other kinds of matter is emphasized at the expense of its self-interaction. This reformulation presents the very advantageous possibility that the same potential may be used now for all galaxies. New correlations are established.

6 pages, poster presented at the symposium "The Dark Universe : Matter, Energy, and Gravity", 2 - 5 April 2001, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore (USA, edited by M. Livio)