SESZIONE DI TORINO
Modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) is a possible way to explain the flat galaxy rotation curves without invoking the existence of dark matter. It is however quite difficult to predict such a phenomenology in a consistent field theory, free of instabilities and admitting a well-posed Cauchy problem. I will discuss various ways one may modify general relativity, and underline their successes and failures both from the experimental and the field-theoretical viewpoints. The main conclusion is that even the most promising frameworks present serious difficulties, besides their unnatural fine-tuning. I will also mention some recent ideas which might avoid such generic problems, although this remains to be proven.

DATA: 14-10-2008