scholarly journals Anatomy of a buckling galactic bar

2019 ◽  
Vol 629 ◽  
pp. A52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa L. Łokas

Using N-body simulations we study the buckling instability in a galactic bar forming in a Milky Way-like galaxy. The galaxy is initially composed of an axisymmetric, exponential stellar disk embedded in a spherical dark matter halo. The parameters of the model are chosen so that the galaxy is mildly unstable to bar formation and the evolution is followed for 10 Gyr. A strong bar forms slowly over the first few gigayears and buckles after 4.5 Gyr from the start of the simulation becoming much weaker and developing a pronounced boxy/peanut shape. We measure the properties of the bar at the time of buckling in terms of the mean acceleration, velocity, and distortion in the vertical direction. The maps of these quantities in face-on projections reveal characteristic quadrupole patterns which wind up over a short timescale. We also detect a secondary buckling event lasting much longer and occurring only in the outer part of the bar. We then study the orbital structure of the bar in periods before and after the first buckling. We find that most of the buckling orbits originate from x1 orbits supporting the bar. During buckling the ratio of the vertical to horizontal frequency of the stellar orbits decreases dramatically and after buckling the orbits obey a very tight relation between the vertical and circular frequency: 3ν = 4Ω. We propose that buckling is initiated by the vertical resonance of the x1 orbits creating the initial distortion of the bar that later evolves as kinematic bending waves.

2019 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
pp. A37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa L. Łokas

Strong galactic bars produced in simulations tend to undergo a period of buckling instability that weakens and thickens them and forms a boxy/peanut structure in their central parts. This theoretical prediction has been confirmed by identifying such morphologies in real galaxies. The nature and origin of this instability, however, remain poorly understood with some studies claiming that it is due to fire-hose instability while others relating it to vertical instability of stellar orbits supporting the bar. One of the channels for the formation of galactic bars is via the interaction of disky galaxies with perturbers of significant mass. Tidally induced bars offer a unique possibility of studying buckling instability because their formation can be controlled by changing the strength of the interaction while keeping the initial structure of the galaxy the same. We used a set of four simulations of flyby interactions where a galaxy on a prograde orbit forms a bar, which is stronger for stronger tidal forces. We studied their buckling by calculating different kinematic signatures, including profiles of the mean velocity in the vertical direction, as well as distortions of the bars out of the disk plane. Although our two strongest bars buckle most strongly, there is no direct relation between the ratio of vertical to horizontal velocity dispersion and the bar’s susceptibility to buckling, as required by the fire-hose instability interpretation. While our weakest bar buckles, a stronger one does not, its dispersion ratio remains low, and it grows to become the strongest of all at the end of evolution. Instead, we find that during buckling the resonance between the vertical and radial orbital frequencies becomes wide and therefore able to modify stellar orbits over a significant range of radii. We conclude that vertical orbital instability is the more plausible explanation for the origin of buckling.


1979 ◽  
Vol 84 ◽  
pp. 511-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan D. Tubbs ◽  
Robert H. Sanders

Hunter and Toomre (1969) have demonstrated that a simple warp of a stellar disk will damp out within one or two galactic rotation periods due to rapid differential recession of stellar orbits. If, however, the galactic gravitational field is more nearly spherically symmetric, the rate of differential recession is decreased and the warp may persist for a longer time. We therefore propose that the observed gaseous warps exist in regions outside of the massive stellar disk; that is, in regions where the gravitational field is essentially spherically symmetric. A necessary condition of this hypothesis is that long-lived warps are present only in a low mass, low random velocity component of the galaxy – presumably the gas.


Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Oleg Onishchenko ◽  
Viktor Fedun ◽  
Wendell Horton ◽  
Oleg Pokhotelov ◽  
Natalia Astafieva ◽  
...  

A new model of an axially-symmetric stationary concentrated vortex for an inviscid incompressible flow is presented as an exact solution of the Euler equations. In this new model, the vortex is exponentially localised, not only in the radial direction, but also in height. This new model of stationary concentrated vortex arises when the radial flow, which concentrates vorticity in a narrow column around the axis of symmetry, is balanced by vortex advection along the symmetry axis. Unlike previous models, vortex velocity, vorticity and pressure are characterised not only by a characteristic vortex radius, but also by a characteristic vortex height. The vortex structure in the radial direction has two distinct regions defined by the internal and external parts: in the inner part the vortex flow is directed upward, and in the outer part it is downward. The vortex structure in the vertical direction can be divided into the bottom and top regions. At the bottom of the vortex the flow is centripetal and at the top it is centrifugal. Furthermore, at the top of the vortex the previously ascending fluid starts to descend. It is shown that this new model of a vortex is in good agreement with the results of field observations of dust vortices in the Earth’s atmosphere.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (S359) ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
W. Forman ◽  
C. Jones ◽  
A. Bogdan ◽  
R. Kraft ◽  
E. Churazov ◽  
...  

AbstractOptically luminous early type galaxies host X-ray luminous, hot atmospheres. These hot atmospheres, which we refer to as coronae, undergo the same cooling and feedback processes as are commonly found in their more massive cousins, the gas rich atmospheres of galaxy groups and galaxy clusters. In particular, the hot coronae around galaxies radiatively cool and show cavities in X-ray images that are filled with relativistic plasma originating from jets powered by supermassive black holes (SMBH) at the galaxy centers. We discuss the SMBH feedback using an X-ray survey of early type galaxies carried out using Chandra X-ray Observatory observations. Early type galaxies with coronae very commonly have weak X-ray active nuclei and have associated radio sources. Based on the enthalpy of observed cavities in the coronae, there is sufficient energy to “balance” the observed radiative cooling. There are a very few remarkable examples of optically faint galaxies that are 1) unusually X-ray luminous, 2) have large dark matter halo masses, and 3) have large SMBHs (e.g., NGC4342 and NGC4291). These properties suggest that, in some galaxies, star formation may have been truncated at early times, breaking the simple scaling relations.


1979 ◽  
Vol 84 ◽  
pp. 151-153
Author(s):  
James W-K. Mark ◽  
Linda Sugiyama ◽  
Robert H. Berman ◽  
Giuseppe Bertin

A concentrated nuclear bulge with about 30% of the galaxy mass is sufficient (Lin, 1975; Berman and Mark, 1978) to eliminate strong bar-forming instabilities which dominate the dynamics of the stellar disk. Weak bar-like or oval distortions might remain depending on the model. In such systems self-excited discrete modes give rise to global spiral patterns which are maintained in the presence of differential rotation and dissipation (cf. especially the spiral patterns in Bertin et al., 1977, 1978). These spiral modes are standing waves that are physically analyzable (Mark, 1977) into a superposition of two travelling waves propagating in opposite directions back and forth between galactic central regions and corotation (a resonator). Only a few discrete pattern frequencies are allowed. An interpretation is that the central regions and corotation radius must be sufficiently far apart so that a Bohr-Sommerfeld type of phase-integral condition is satisfied for the wave system of each mode. The temporal growth of these modes is mostly due to an effect of Wave Amplification by Stimulated Emission (of Rotating Spirals, abbrev. WASERS, cf. Mark 1976) which occurs in the vicinity of corotation. In some galaxies one mode might be predominent while other galaxies could exhibit more complicated spiral structure because several modes are present. Weak barlike or oval distortions hardly interfere with the structure of these modes. But they might nevertheless contribute partially towards strengthening the growth of one mode relative to another, as well as affecting the kinematics of the gaseous component.


2018 ◽  
Vol 617 ◽  
pp. A142 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sarkar ◽  
C. J. Jog

We study the vertical stellar distribution of the Milky Way thin disk in detail with particular focus on the outer disk. We treat the galactic disk as a gravitationally coupled, three-component system consisting of stars, atomic hydrogen gas, and molecular hydrogen gas in the gravitational field of the dark matter halo. The self-consistent vertical distribution for stars and gas in such a realistic system is obtained for radii between 4–22 kpc. The inclusion of an additional gravitating component constrains the vertical stellar distribution toward the mid-plane, so that the mid-plane density is higher, the disk thickness is reduced, and the vertical density profile is steeper than in the one-component, isothermal, stars-alone case. We show that the stellar distribution is constrained mainly by the gravitational field of gas and dark matter halo in the inner and the outer Galaxy, respectively. We find that the thickness of the stellar disk (measured as the half-width at half-maximum of the vertical density distribution) increases with radius, flaring steeply beyond R = 17 kpc. The disk thickness is reduced by a factor of 3–4 in the outer Galaxy as a result of the gravitational field of the halo, which may help the disk resist distortion at large radii. The disk would flare even more if the effect of dark matter halo were not taken into account. Thus it is crucially important to include the effect of the dark matter halo when determining the vertical structure and dynamics of a galactic disk in the outer region.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S266) ◽  
pp. 366-366
Author(s):  
Jura Borissova ◽  
Radostin Kurtev ◽  
Margaret M. Hanson ◽  
Leonid Georgiev ◽  
Valentin Ivanov ◽  
...  

AbstractWe are reporting some recent results from our long-term program aimed at characterizing the obscured present-day star cluster population in the Galaxy. Our goal is to expand the current census of the Milky Way's inner stellar disk to guide models seeking to understand the structure and recent star-formation history of our Galaxy. The immediate goal is to derive accurate cluster physical parameters using precise infrared photometry and spectroscopy. So far, we observed approximately 60 star cluster candidates selected from different infrared catalogs. Their nature, reddening, distance, age and mass are analyzed. Two of them, Mercer 3 and Mercer 5, are new obscured Milky Way globular clusters. Among the newly identified open clusters, the objects [DBS2003] 179, Mercer 23, Mercer 30, Mercer 70, and [DBS2003] 106 are particularly interesting because they contain massive young OB and Wolf–Rayet stars with strong emission lines.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Cui ◽  
Xuhui Shen

Abstract. This research studied the spatiotemporal variation in methane in the mid-upper troposphere during the Wenchuan earthquake (12 May, 2008) using AIRS retrieval data and discussed the methane anomaly mechanism. Three indices were proposed and used for analysis. Our results show that the methane concentration increased significantly in 2008, with an average increase of 5.12 * 10−8, compared to the average increase of 1.18 * 10−8 in the previous five years. The Alice and Diff indices can be used to identify methane concentration anomalies. The two indices showed that the methane concentration distribution before and after the earthquake broke the distribution features of the background field. As the earthquake approached, areas of high methane concentration gradually converged towards the west side of the epicenter from both ends of the Longmenshan fault zone. Moreover, a large anomalous area was centered at the epicenter eight days before the earthquake occurred, and a trend of strengthening, weakening and strengthening appeared over time. The Gradient index showed that the vertical direction obviously increased before the main earthquake, and the value was positive. The gradient value is negative during coseismic or postseismic events. The gradient index reflects the gas emission characteristics to some extent. We also determined that the methane release was connected with the deep crust-mantle stress state, as well as microfracture generation and expansion. However, due to the lack of any technical means to accurately identify the source and content of methane in the atmosphere before the earthquake, an in-depth discussion has not been conducted, and further studies on this issue may be needed.


1997 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhardt R. Meurer

AbstractRecent results on NGC 2915, the first blue compact dwarf galaxy to have its mass distribution modelled, are summarised. NGC 2915 is shown to have HI well beyond its detected optical extent. Its rotation curve is well determined and fit with maximum disk mass models. The dark matter halo dominates the mass distribution at nearly all radii, and has a very dense core compared to those of normal galaxies. High-mass star formation energises the HI in the centre of the galaxy, but appears to be maintained in viriai equilibrium with the dark matter halo. The implications of these results are briefly discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (4) ◽  
pp. 5102-5120
Author(s):  
Ryan Leaman ◽  
Tomás Ruiz-Lara ◽  
Andrew A Cole ◽  
Michael A Beasley ◽  
Alina Boecker ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Recent photometric observations revealed a massive, extended (MGC ≳ 105 M⊙; Rh ∼ 14 pc) globular cluster (GC) in the central region (D3D ≲ 100 pc) of the low-mass (M* ∼ 5 × 106 M⊙) dwarf irregular galaxy Pegasus. This massive GC offers a unique opportunity to study star cluster inspiral as a mechanism for building up nuclear star clusters, and the dark matter (DM) density profile of the host galaxy. Here, we present spectroscopic observations indicating that the GC has a systemic velocity of ΔV = 3 ± 8 km s−1 relative to the host galaxy, and an old, metal-poor stellar population. We run a suite of orbital evolution models for a variety of host potentials (cored to cusped) and find that the GC’s observed tidal radius (which is ∼3 times larger than the local Jacobi radius), relaxation time, and relative velocity are consistent with it surviving inspiral from a distance of Dgal ≳ 700 pc (up to the maximum tested value of Dgal = 2000 pc). In successful trials, the GC arrives to the galaxy centre only within the last ∼1.4 ± 1 Gyr. Orbits that arrive in the centre and survive are possible in DM haloes of nearly all shapes, however to satisfy the GC’s structural constraints a galaxy DM halo with mass MDM ≃ 6 ± 2 × 109 M⊙, concentration c ≃ 13.7 ± 0.6, and an inner slope to the DM density profile of −0.9 ≤ γ ≤ −0.5 is preferred. The gas densities necessary for its creation and survival suggest the GC could have formed initially near the dwarf’s centre, but then was quickly relocated to the outskirts where the weaker tidal field permitted an increased size and relaxation time – with the latter preserving the former during subsequent orbital decay.


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