4. Theory

The theoretical interpretation of rotation curves is one of the goals of the so called CDM (Cold Dark Matter) hierarchical models of formation and evolution of galaxies, which are at present the most widely accepted models. Other explanations, such as the MOND (Modified Newtonian Dynamics) and the magnetic models, are tentative and will also be mentioned.

Subsections

• The nature of galactic dark matter
• CDM theoretical models
  • Growth of primordial fluctuations
  • CDM Hierarchical Models
  • Recent developments
  • General remarks
  • Some successes and failures
  • CDM Models, halo structure and rotation of spirals
• MOND
  • MOND applied to different astrophysical systems
  • Final comments about MOND
• The magnetic hypothesis
  • Are magnetic fields ignorable?
    • Extragalactic magnetic fields
    • Magnetic fields in the outermost region of galactic disks
  • The magnetic model
    • The one-dimension model
    • The two-dimension model. Flaring and escape
    • Some indirect arguments against and favouring the magnetic hypothesis
  • Mechanisms producing magnetic fields in the outermost disk
    • Turbulent difussion and the galactic magnetic field
    • A dynamo-like mechanism
  • The origin of cosmic magnetic fields
    • Inflation magnetic fields
    • Phase transition magnetic fields
    • Magnetic fields generated by turbulence during the radiation dominated era
    • Magnetic Fields generated after Recombination
    • Comments on the different theories
  • Large scale structure and magnetic fields
  • A tentative history of cosmological magnetic fields