Publication | Closed Access
Does the missing mass problem signal the breakdown of Newtonian gravity?
907
Citations
0
References
1984
Year
A nonrelativistic potential theory for gravity that differs from Newtonian theory is examined. The authors construct a modified‑gravity theory that alters the Poisson equation, derives from a Lagrangian, reproduces galactic dynamics without dark matter, and sketch a toy relativistic extension matching the nonrelativistic limit. The theory conserves total momentum, angular momentum, and energy, satisfies the weak equivalence principle by giving identical free‑fall acceleration to all isolated systems, but violates the strong equivalence principle because internal dynamics.
view Abstract Citations (770) References (12) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Does the missing mass problem signal the breakdown of Newtonian gravity? Bekenstein, J. ; Milgrom, M. Abstract A nonrelativistic potential theory for gravity is considered which differs from the Newtonian theory. The theory is built on the basic assumptions of the modified dynamics, which were shown earlier to reproduce dynamical properties of galaxies and galaxy aggregates without having to assume the existence of hidden mass. The theory involves a modification of the Poisson equation and can be derived from a Lagrangian. The total momentum, angular momentum, and (properly defined) energy of an isolated system are conserved. The center-of-mass acceleration of an arbitrary bound system in a constant external gravitational field is independent of any property of the system. In other words, all isolated objects fall in exactly the same way in a constant external gravitational field (the weak equivalence principle is satisfied). However, the internal dynamics of a system in a constant external field is different from that of the same system in the absence of the external field, in violation of the strong principle of equivalence. These two results are consistent with the phenomenological requirements of the modified dynamics. A toy relativistic theory is sketched which has a nonrelativistic limit satisfying the requirements of the modified dynamics. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: November 1984 DOI: 10.1086/162570 Bibcode: 1984ApJ...286....7B Keywords: Galactic Rotation; Gravitation Theory; Mass Distribution; Missing Mass (Astrophysics); Newton Theory; Nonrelativistic Mechanics; Potential Theory; Computational Astrophysics; Cosmology; Equivalence; Poisson Equation; Astrophysics full text sources ADS |