Graduate Data on galaxy rotation curves vs visible matter

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on acquiring raw data for testing dark matter theories in galaxies, specifically focusing on visible mass versus total mass within varying radii and observed versus expected rotational velocities. The SPARC database, curated by Professor Stacy McGaugh, is highlighted as a valuable resource containing extensive data for multiple galaxies. Participants emphasize the importance of a scientific approach to interpreting this data, particularly in understanding discrepancies in velocity contributions from gas and disk components. Key papers and blogs are recommended for further exploration of the Radial Acceleration Relation and related concepts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of dark matter theories in astrophysics
  • Familiarity with the SPARC database and its data structure
  • Knowledge of Newtonian mass models and their application in galaxy rotation
  • Ability to interpret astronomical data and graphs
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the SPARC database for detailed galaxy data
  • Read "One Law to Rule them All: the Radial Acceleration Relation of Galaxies"
  • Investigate the Radial Acceleration Relation in Rotationally Supported Galaxies
  • Follow McGaugh's blog, Triton Station, for ongoing discussions and insights
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, and researchers interested in dark matter, galaxy dynamics, and data analysis in cosmology will benefit from this discussion.

bakerjay
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TL;DR
I'm after some raw data (visible mass vs total mass within different radii) for testing theories of dark matter in galaxies.
I'm after some raw data for testing theories of dark matter in galaxies.

Basically what I want is table showing visible mass vs total mass within different radii (or, observed rotational velocity vs expected rotational velocity without dark matter). Plus error percentages. And ideally, for multiple different galaxies.

I've been able to find lots of low-res graphs such as this, which show the sort of data I'm after, but can't seem to find it in table form...

ation_curve_of_spiral_galaxy_Messier_33_Triangulum.png
 
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bakerjay said:
TL;DR Summary: I'm after some raw data (visible mass vs total mass within different radii) for testing theories of dark matter in galaxies.
I guess you have not yet found Stacy McGaugh's website and the extensive, high quality "SPARC" database, together with his data pages?

Prof McGaugh and colleagues have already done vast amounts of that kind of attempted DM fitting, eventually leading himself into deep disappointment about DM. If you can adopt a truly unbiased scientific approach, you would profit by familiarizing yourself with their work over the past 20+ yrs.
 
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strangerep said:
I guess you have not yet found Stacy McGaugh's website and the extensive, high quality "SPARC" database, together with his data pages?

Prof McGaugh and colleagues have already done vast amounts of that kind of attempted DM fitting, eventually leading himself into deep disappointment about DM. If you can adopt a truly unbiased scientific approach, you would profit by familiarizing yourself with their work over the past 20+ yrs.
Oh great, thanks! That looks like the kind of thing I'm after.

I'm having a bit of trouble interpreting some of that - for instance, in the 'Newtonian Mass Models' data, there is observed velocity, and then velocity contributions from gas, and from disk. I would have anticipated that {observed - gas - disk} would give you the velocity contribution from dark matter, but often the gas+disk contributions are actually greater than the observed velocity. What am I missing here?
 
Alas, I'm not an expert, and you didn't quote the data examples that you're puzzled about.

So I'll just note that, at low accelerations, one finds that ##\,g_{obs} \propto \sqrt{g_{bar}}## .

For more detail, try these papers:

One Law to Rule them All: the Radial Acceleration Relation of Galaxies

The Radial Acceleration Relation in Rotationally Supported Galaxies

You might also benefit by following McGaugh's blog Triton Station, and also reading some of his older blog posts therein.

If you reply quickly to any of his (new) blog posts, and ask questions, sometimes he (or another poster) will answer helpfully, even if your question is not quite on the topic of his post.
 
I always thought it was odd that we know dark energy expands our universe, and that we know it has been increasing over time, yet no one ever expressed a "true" size of the universe (not "observable" universe, the ENTIRE universe) by just reversing the process of expansion based on our understanding of its rate through history, to the point where everything would've been in an extremely small region. The more I've looked into it recently, I've come to find that it is due to that "inflation"...

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