Rotation Curve and Mass Distribution in the Galaxy from the Velocities of Objects at Distances up to 200 kpc

TL;DR

This study evaluates three models of the Milky Way's mass distribution using observational data up to 200 kpc, refining parameters and comparing their fit to rotation curves and local constraints.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed comparison of three dark matter halo models with observational data, identifying the Navarro-Frenk-White model as the most accurate for the Galaxy's mass distribution.

Findings

Galactic mass within 50 kpc is approximately 0.41 x 10^12 M_7.

Mass estimates within 200 kpc vary significantly across models.

The NFW model provides the best fit to observational data.

Abstract

Three three-component (bulge, disk, halo) model Galactic gravitational potentials differing by the expression for the dark matter halo are considered. The central (bulge) and disk components are described by the Miyamoto-Nagai expressions. The Allen-Santill'an (I), Wilkinson-Evans (II), and Navarro-Frenk-White (III) models are used to describe the halo. A set of present-day observational data in the range of Galactocentric distances R from 0 to 200 kpc is used to refine the parameters of these models. The model rotation curves have been fitted to the observed velocities by taking into account the constraints on the local matter density \rho_\odotand the force K_{z=1.1} acting perpendicularly to the Galactic plane. The Galactic mass within a sphere of radius 50 kpc, M_G (R<=50 kpc)=(0.41+/-0.12)x10^12 M_\odot, is shown to satisfy all three models. The differences between the models become increasingly significant with increasing radius R. In model I, the Galactic mass within a sphere of radius 200 kpc turns out to be greatest among the models considered, M_G (R<=200 kpc)=(1.45+/-0.30)x10^12 M_\odot, and the smallest value has been found in model II, M_G (R<=200 kpc)=(0.61+/-0.12)x10^{12} M_\odot. In our view, model III is the best one among those considered, because it ensures the smallest residual between the data and the constructed model rotation curve provided that the constraints on the local parameters hold with a high accuracy. Here, the Galactic mass is M_G (R<=200 kpc)=(0.75+/-0.19)x10^12 M_\odot. A comparative analysis with the models by Irrgang et al. (2013), including those using the integration of orbits for the two globular clusters NGC 104 and NGC 1851 as an example, has been performed. The third model is shown to have subjected to a significant improvement.