Can Modified Gravity (MOG) explain the speeding Bullet (Cluster)?

Abstract

We apply our scalar-tensor-vector (STVG) modified gravity theory (MOG) to calculate the infall velocities of the two clusters constituting the Bullet Cluster 1E0657-06. In the absence of an applicable two-body solution to the MOG field equations, we adopt an approximate acceleration formula based on the spherically symmetric, static, vacuum solution of the theory in the presence of a point source. We find that this formula predicts an infall velocity of the two clusters that is consistent with estimates based on hydrodynamic simulations.Comment: 4 page