The influence of non-minimally coupled scalar fields on the dynamics of interacting galaxies

TL;DR

This paper investigates how non-minimally coupled scalar fields influence the formation of bars in interacting galactic disks, revealing that scalar-tensor gravity parameters affect bar length and galaxy dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of galaxy interactions under scalar-tensor gravity, linking theory parameters to observable galactic features.

Findings

Bar length varies with scalar-tensor parameters

Weaker tidal effects produce shorter bars

Scalar field parameters influence galaxy interaction outcomes

Abstract

We study bar formation in galactic disks as a consequence of the collision of two spiral galaxies under the influence of a potential which is obtained from the Newtonian limit of a scalar--tensor theory of gravity. We found that dynamical effects depend on parameters ($\alpha$, $\lambda$) of the theory. In particular, we observe that the bar is shorter for weaker tidal perturbations, which in turn corresponds to smaller values of $\lambda$ used in our numerical experiments.