Testing MOG theory in the Milky Way

TL;DR

This study tests Moffat's Modified Gravity (MOG) theory against the Milky Way's rotation curve data, finding that neither the original nor modified versions can accurately reproduce the observed galactic rotation profile.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive test of MOG theory using detailed Milky Way data, demonstrating its failure to match observed rotation curves in current formulations.

Findings

MOG theory does not fit the Milky Way rotation curve

Both original and modified MOG versions are inadequate

Standard baryonic matter models are more consistent with observations

Abstract

We perform a test of John Moffat's Modified Gravity theory (MOG) within the Milky Way, adopting the well known "Rotation Curve" method. We use the dynamics of observed tracers within the disk to determine the gravitational potential as a function of galactocentric distance, and compare that with the potential that is expected to be generated by the visible component only (stars and gas) under different "flavors" of the MOG theory, making use of a state-of-the-art setup for both the observed tracers and baryonic morphology. Our analysis shows that in both the original and the modified version (considering a self-consistent evaluation of the Milky Way mass), the theory fails to reproduce the observed rotation curve. We conclude that in none of its present formulation, the MOG theory is able to explain the observed Rotation Curve of the Milky Way.