The Modified Dynamics--A Status Review

Abstract

The Modified dynamics (MOND) has been propounded as an alternative to Dark matter. It imputes the mass discrepancy in galaxy systems to failure of standard dynamics in the limit of small accelerations. After a brief description of the MOND tenets, I discuss how its predictions now compare with the data. I put special emphasis on rotation-curve analysis--whence comes the most clear-cut support for MOND, and on the cores of rich x-ray clusters, where MOND does not yet explain away the mass discrepancy. I then outline the MOND program, especially work still left to do. This is followed by general comments on cosmology and structure formation in MOND. I conclude with some incomplete thoughts on the possible origin of MOND (as an effective theory); in particular on the possibility that it comes about as a vacuum effect.