Magneto-gravitational Coupling and the Missing Mass Problem in Galactic Dynamics

In this book, rotation dynamics of galaxies is described using coupled field equations for the gravitational and electromagnetic fields. Relativistic frame-dragging effect is one of the consequences predicted by the general theory of relativity for rotating masses. However, except for strong gravitational sources, the spacetime dragging is too weak to produce significant modifications around rotating astrophysical systems. Here it is shown that, in the case of gravitational and magnetic field coupling, the effects of magnetic field energy density are enhanced. An outward dragging caused by the coupled effect of the magnetic field and the background spacetime can produce significant increase in the rotational velocities of galaxies. This has important implications for the missing mass problem in galactic dynamics. Other consequences of the magneto-gravitational coupling, such as galactic size, age, and the luminosity-mass relation, consolidate the model of galactic dynamics.