The collective origin of spiral structures in disk galaxies
After almost fifty years the origin of spiral arms in disk galaxies remains one of the major unsolved problems in astrophysics. Recent attempts have indicated that substructures in the dark matter halos of galaxies could induce spiral patterns in disks by generating localized disturbances that grow...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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EDP Sciences
2012-02-01
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| Series: | EPJ Web of Conferences |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20121907004 |
| _version_ | 1818777260366233600 |
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| author | Hernquist L. Vogelsberger M. D’Onghia E. |
| author_facet | Hernquist L. Vogelsberger M. D’Onghia E. |
| author_sort | Hernquist L. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | After almost fifty years the origin of spiral arms in disk galaxies remains one of the major unsolved problems in astrophysics. Recent attempts have indicated that substructures in the dark matter halos of galaxies could induce spiral patterns in disks by generating localized disturbances that grow by swing amplification. However, there are indications that dark matter substructures orbiting in the inner regions of galaxy halos would be destroyed by dynamical processes such as disk shocking, and hence would not be able to seed the formation of spiral structure. Instead, we use numerical simulations of unprecedented resolution explore the possibility that spiral arms might be generated by the dynamical response of the disk to overdensities corotating within the disk. These perturbations can be identified with fluctuations in the distribution of gas in the interstellar medium of galaxies, such as giant molecular clouds. We develop a new theory for spiral structure formation based on the non-linear effects of swing amplification. Our model makes numerous testable predictions, making it possible to finally confront theory with observations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T11:26:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc7a952a2fcd4d1ab1336d4ed509768e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2100-014X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T11:26:00Z |
| publishDate | 2012-02-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EPJ Web of Conferences |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc7a952a2fcd4d1ab1336d4ed509768e2022-12-21T21:09:42ZengEDP SciencesEPJ Web of Conferences2100-014X2012-02-01190700410.1051/epjconf/20121907004The collective origin of spiral structures in disk galaxiesHernquist L.Vogelsberger M.D’Onghia E.After almost fifty years the origin of spiral arms in disk galaxies remains one of the major unsolved problems in astrophysics. Recent attempts have indicated that substructures in the dark matter halos of galaxies could induce spiral patterns in disks by generating localized disturbances that grow by swing amplification. However, there are indications that dark matter substructures orbiting in the inner regions of galaxy halos would be destroyed by dynamical processes such as disk shocking, and hence would not be able to seed the formation of spiral structure. Instead, we use numerical simulations of unprecedented resolution explore the possibility that spiral arms might be generated by the dynamical response of the disk to overdensities corotating within the disk. These perturbations can be identified with fluctuations in the distribution of gas in the interstellar medium of galaxies, such as giant molecular clouds. We develop a new theory for spiral structure formation based on the non-linear effects of swing amplification. Our model makes numerous testable predictions, making it possible to finally confront theory with observations.http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20121907004 |
| spellingShingle | Hernquist L. Vogelsberger M. D’Onghia E. The collective origin of spiral structures in disk galaxies EPJ Web of Conferences |
| title | The collective origin of spiral structures in disk galaxies |
| title_full | The collective origin of spiral structures in disk galaxies |
| title_fullStr | The collective origin of spiral structures in disk galaxies |
| title_full_unstemmed | The collective origin of spiral structures in disk galaxies |
| title_short | The collective origin of spiral structures in disk galaxies |
| title_sort | collective origin of spiral structures in disk galaxies |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20121907004 |
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