https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-13956-x
Regular Article - Theoretical Physics
Nonminimally coupled dark matter in clusters of galaxies: a fully comprehensive analysis
1
Institute of Physics, University of Szczecin, Wielkopolska 15, 70-451, Szczecin, Poland
2
Departamento de Matemáticas, Universidad de León, Escuela de Ingenierías Industrial, Informática y Aeroespacial Campus de Vegazana, s/n, 24071, León, Spain
3
IUFFyM, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008, Salamanca, Spain
Received:
30
December
2024
Accepted:
15
February
2025
Published online:
11
March
2025
In this study, we explore how a non-minimal coupling between dark matter and gravity can affect the behavior of dark matter in galaxy clusters. We have considered the case of a disformal coupling, which leads to a modification of the Poisson equation. Building on an earlier work, we expand the analysis considering all possible disformal coupling scenarios and employing various dark matter density profiles. In doing so, we aim to constrain the key parameter in our model, the characteristic coupling length. To achieve this, we analyze data from a combination of strong and weak lensing using three statistical approaches: a single cluster fitting procedure, a joint analysis, and one with stacked profiles. Our findings show that the coupling length is typically very small, thus being fully consistent with general relativity, although with an upper limit at 
which is of the order of 100 kpc.
© The Author(s) 2025
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