On asymptotic behaviour of galactic rotation curves in superfluid vacuum theory

TL;DR

This paper explores how a superfluid vacuum theory predicts specific asymptotic behaviors of galactic rotation curves, showing a transition from flat to non-flat regimes at galaxy outskirts, supported by data analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a superfluid vacuum model predicting multi-scale gravitational effects and compares its rotation curve predictions with observational data.

Findings

Rotation curves are flat in outer galaxy regions.

A transition from flat to non-flat rotation curves occurs at galaxy outskirts.

Data supports the predicted crossover in rotation curve behavior.

Abstract

The logarithmic superfluid theory of physical vacuum predicts that gravity is an induced phenomenon, which has a multiple-scale structure. At astronomical scales, as the distance from a gravitating center increases, gravitational potential and corresponding spacetime metric are dominated by a Newtonian (Schwarzschild) term, followed by a logarithmic term, finally by linear and quadratic (de Sitter) terms. Correspondingly, rotation curves are predicted to be Keplerian in the inner regions of galaxies, mostly flat in the outer regions, and non-flat in the utmost outer regions. We compare theory's predictions with the furthest rotation curves data points available for a number of galaxies: using a two-parameter fit, we perform a preliminary estimate which disregards the combined effect of gas and stellar disc, but is relatively simple and uses minimal assumptions for galactic luminous matter. The data strongly points out at the existence of a crossover transition from flat to non-flat regimes at galactic outskirts.