Simulations of the universe using modified newtonian dynamics

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Volker Müller, since 3/2009
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2006 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 24942194

Despite the remarkable success of the concordance cosmological model (¿CDM, ¿-Cold-Dark- Matter) including about 28% dark matter, 4% baryonic matter and 68% dark energy there appear to be quite distinct deviations between predictions of this standard model and observations. The problems frequently summarized as cold dark matter (CDM) crisis still persist: the debate about the exact value of the logarithmic inner slope of the density profiles of (galactic) halos continues and the discrepancy about the abundance of satellite galaxies has not been resolved, too. While the general belief amongst the astronomical community is to modify and fine-tune the parameters of the dark mater model in order to move towards an agreement, little effort is spent investigating alternative solutions to this CDM crisis. In this application another possibility is put forward which is based upon a simple yet ground shaking adjustment to Newton s second law of motion, namely Modified Newtonian Dynamics or MOND. The recent progress in the development of MOND and the embedding of it into a general relativistic framework made this theory a highly promising alternative the dark matter. First steps of applying MOND to cosmological N-body-simulations of the structure formation in the Universe indicated rather reassuring results speaking in favour of this radical approach. However, to gain full insight into this unusual theory and to better understand its predictive power it appears unavoidable to revisit the subject taking into account the latest improvements in its formulation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr. Alexander Knebe, until 3/2009