Clusters of galaxies with modified Newtonian dynamics |
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| Authors: | R H Sanders |
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| Institution: | Department of Astronomy, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502 Japan;295 Camberwarra Drive, Craigie, Western Australia 6025, Australia;RMB 2493, Ellinbank 3820, Australia;Bronberg Observatory, PO Box 11426, Tiegerpoort 0056, South Africa;19 Greenland Drive, Drouin 3818, Victoria, Australia;32 Monash Ave, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 810-8560, Japan;Woodridge Observatory, 8 Diosma Rd, Eltham, Vic 3095, Australia |
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| Abstract: | I consider X-ray emitting clusters of galaxies in the context of modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND). Self-gravitating isothermal gas spheres are not good representations of rich clusters; the X-ray luminosity at a given temperature is typically an order of magnitude larger than observed, and the predicted X-ray surface brightness distribution is not well-matched by the standard 'β-model' fits to the observations. Pure gas spheres with a density distribution described by a β-model also fail because, with MOND, these objects are far from isothermal and again overluminous. These problems may be resolved by adding an additional dark mass component in the central regions, here modelled by a constant density sphere contained within two core radii and having a mass typically of one to two times the total cluster mass in the gas. With this additional component, the observed luminosity–temperature relation for clusters of galaxies is reproduced, and the typical mass discrepancy in actual clusters is three to four times smaller than implied by Newtonian dynamics. Thus, while MOND significantly reduces the mass of the dark component in clusters it does not remove it completely. I speculate on the nature of the dark component and argue that neutrinos, with mass near the experimental upper limit are a possible candidate. |
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| Keywords: | accretion accretion discs stars: dwarf novae stars: individual: BF Ara novae cataclysmic variables |
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