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Issue A&A
Volume 500, Number 2, June III 2009
Page(s) 801 - 805
Section Galactic structure, stellar clusters, and populations
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/200809978
Published online 29 April 2009

A&A 500, 801-805 (2009)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/200809978

Galactic kinematics with modified Newtonian dynamics

O. Bienaymé1, B. Famaey2, X. Wu3, H. S. Zhao3, and D. Aubert1

1  Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Observatoire Astronomique, France
    e-mail: bienayme@astro.u-strasbg.fr
2  Institut d'Astronomie et d'Astrophysique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
3  SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St. Andrews, UK

Received 15 April 2008 / Accepted 27 March 2009

Abstract
We look for observational signatures that could discriminate between Newtonian and modified Newtonian (MOND) dynamics in the Milky Way, in view of the advent of large astrometric and spectroscopic surveys. Indeed, a typical signature of MOND is an apparent disk of “phantom” dark matter, which is uniquely correlated with the visible disk-density distribution. Due to this phantom dark disk, Newtonian models with a spherical halo have different signatures from MOND models close to the Galactic plane. The models can thus be differentiated by measuring dynamically (within Newtonian dynamics) the disk surface density at the solar radius, the radial mass gradient within the disk, or the velocity ellipsoid tilt angle above the Galactic plane. Using the most realistic possible baryonic mass model for the Milky Way, we predict that, if MOND applies, the local surface density measured by a Newtonist will be approximately 78  $M_\odot/{\rm pc}^2$ within 1.1 kpc of the Galactic plane, the dynamically measured disk scale-length will be enhanced by a factor of 1.25 with respect to the visible disk scale-length, and the local vertical tilt of the velocity ellipsoid at 1 kpc above the plane will be approximately 6 degrees. None of these tests can be conclusive for the present-day accuracy of Milky Way data, but they will be of prime interest with the advent of large surveys such as GAIA.


Key words: gravitation -- stars: kinematics -- Galaxy: fundamental parameters -- Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics -- Galaxy: structure



© ESO 2009


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