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Tensioni del modello a materia oscura sulla scala delle galassie
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Dark matter tensions on the scale of galaxies
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Academic year 2022/2023
- Teachers
- Antonaldo Diaferio (Lecturer)
Luisa Ostorero (Lecturer) - Degree course
- PhD in Physics
- Teaching period
- Second semester
- Type
- Distinctive, Related or integrative
- Credits/Recognition
- 4
- Course disciplinary sector (SSD)
- FIS/05 - astronomy and astrophysics
- Delivery
- Traditional
- Language
- Italian
- Attendance
- Obligatory
- Type of examination
- Oral
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Sommario del corso
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Course objectives
The course provides the students with some basic elements of modern epistemology. As a working example, the course illustrates how modern epistemology largely favours Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), a theory that does not requires dark matter, over the standard model that requires dark matter to interpret the dynamics of galaxies. Indeed, some properties of galaxies, that represent a tension in the standard model, were actually predictions of MOND.
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Results of learning outcomes
The students will be able to distinguish between a progressive and a degenerating problemshift of a scientific theory. The students will also be able to develop their critical thinking.
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Program
In the first part of the course, we illustrate some kinematic properties of disk and dwarf galaxies, including the acceleration scale, the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation, and the galaxy disk stability, that hardly fit within the currently standard Cold Dark Matter model. Over the years, a number of ad hoc modifications to this model have been proposed to solve some of these tensions.
In the second part of the course, we show that, in epistemology, this approach is called degenerating problemshift. This condition might prelude to a substantial scientific revolution. In fact, most of these tensions are actually novel predictions in a different theory proposed in 1983, called Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND). The observed kinematic properties were indeed predicted by this model years in advance of their discovery, as expected in a sound progressive theory.
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Course delivery
The course is taught in a traditional way: all the equations, the calculations, and the plots that are useful to understand a topic are hand-written and drawn on the board.
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Learning assessment methods
As final exam, the student delivers a 20-30 min presentation on a specific topic of his/her choice related to the course program. The student prepares his/her presentation based on the lecture notes and one or more scientific papers suggested by the teachers. A following discussion examines the preparation of the student on the presented topic. The exam outcome is either passed or failed.
Suggested readings and bibliography
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Books:
- David Merritt, A Philosophical Approach to MOND, Cambridge University Press
- Robert H. Sanders, The Dark matter Problem: A Historical Perspective, Cambridge University Press
Review papers:
- Ivan De Martino et al. 2020, Dark Matters on the scale of galaxies, Universe, 6, 107
- Stacy McGaugh, 2020, Predictions and outcomes for the dynamics of rotating galaxies, Galaxies, 8, 35
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Notes
The students who wish to attend the course are invited to register by using the register flag below at their earliest convenience.
The language of the course can be English on request.
NOTICE: For the academic year 2022-23, the course will be delivered both in the period Nov 22nd-Dec 1st 2022 and in spring 2023. Anybody who is interested in the topic is invited to attend.
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Class schedule
Lessons: from 02/05/2023 to 12/05/2023
Notes: The lectures will be delivered in Sala Fubini (Dept. of Physics, 5th floor) following the schedule below:
FIRST WEEK
- Tuesday, May 02 --> 9am - 11am
- Wednesday, May 03 --> 2pm - 4pmSECOND WEEK
- Monday, May 08 --> 9am - 11am
- Tuesday, May 09 --> 9am - 11am
- Thursday, May 11 --> 10am - 11am
- Friday, May 12 --> 9am - 11amTHIRD WEEK
- Thursday, May 25 --> 9am - 11am
- Friday, May 26 --> 9am - 11am
- Monday, May 29 --> 9am - 11am- Enroll
- Closed
- Enrollment opening date
- 13/11/2022 at 00:00
- Enrollment closing date
- 30/04/2023 at 23:55
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