The Phenomenological Scaling Relations of Disk Galaxies

TL;DR

This paper introduces a conservative scaling model for disk galaxies based on fundamental physics, successfully explaining key empirical relations and aligning with recent Gaia data.

Contribution

It presents a new physical model using dimensionless scaling relations to explain the BTFR and RAR, and applies it to the Milky Way's dynamics.

Findings

Derives a physical solution to the Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation

Provides an explanation for the Radial Acceleration Relation

Achieves excellent agreement with Gaia DR2 kinematical data

Abstract

A conservative scaling model based on Newton's law of circular motion and the virial theorem is proposed. Employing dimensionless scaling relations, a physical solution to the Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation (BTFR) is obtained and the origin of the Radial Acceleration Relation (RAR) is provided. A simple model of the Milky Way's dynamics reveals excellent agreement with recent Gaia DR2 kinematical results.