The virial theorem and the dark matter problem in hybrid metric-Palatini gravity

TL;DR

This paper explores how hybrid metric-Palatini gravity, which includes a scalar field, can explain galaxy cluster mass discrepancies via a modified virial theorem, potentially addressing dark matter issues.

Contribution

It derives a generalized virial theorem within hybrid metric-Palatini gravity, linking scalar field effects to galaxy cluster mass discrepancies and extending the theory's astrophysical applications.

Findings

Scalar field effects contribute to the gravitational potential energy.

The virial mass is proportional to the effective scalar field mass.

Scalar effects extend beyond galaxy cluster virial radii.

Abstract

Hybrid metric-Palatini gravity is a recently proposed theory, consisting of the superposition of the metric Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian with an $f(\cal R)$ term constructed \`{a} la Palatini. The theory predicts the existence of a long-range scalar field, which passes the Solar System observational constraints, even if the scalar field is very light, and modifies the cosmological and galactic dynamics. Thus, the theory opens new possibilities to approach, in the same theoretical framework, the problems of both dark energy and dark matter. In this work, we consider the generalized virial theorem in the scalar-tensor representation of the hybrid metric-Palatini gravity. More specifically, taking into account the relativistic collisionless Boltzmann equation, we show that the supplementary geometric terms in the gravitational field equations provide an effective contribution to the gravitational potential energy. We show that the total virial mass is proportional to the effective mass associated with the new terms generated by the effective scalar field, and the baryonic mass. This shows that the geometric origin in the generalized virial theorem may account for the well-known virial theorem mass discrepancy in clusters of galaxies. In addition to this, we also consider astrophysical applications of the model and show that the model predicts that the mass associated to the scalar field and its effects extend beyond the virial radius of the clusters of galaxies. In the context of the galaxy cluster velocity dispersion profiles predicted by the hybrid metric-Palatini model, the generalized virial theorem can be an efficient tool in observationally testing the viability of this class of generalized gravity models.