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Title: AN EMPIRICAL FORMULA FOR THE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION OF A THIN EXPONENTIAL DISC

Abstract

An empirical formula for a Shu distribution function that reproduces a thin disc with exponential surface density to good accuracy is presented. The formula has two free parameters that specify the functional form of the velocity dispersion. Conventionally, this requires the use of an iterative algorithm to produce the correct solution, which is computationally taxing for applications like Markov Chain Monte Carlo model fitting. The formula has been shown to work for flat, rising, and falling rotation curves. Application of this methodology to one of the Dehnen distribution functions is also shown. Finally, an extension of this formula to reproduce velocity dispersion profiles that are an exponential function of radius is also presented. Our empirical formula should greatly aid the efficient comparison of disc models with large stellar surveys or N-body simulations.

Authors:
;  [1]
  1. Sydney Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006 (Australia)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22130953
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 773; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; ACCURACY; DENSITY; DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS; GALAXIES; ITERATIVE METHODS; MANY-BODY PROBLEM; MARKOV PROCESS; MONTE CARLO METHOD; ROTATION

Citation Formats

Sharma, Sanjib, and Bland-Hawthorn, Joss. AN EMPIRICAL FORMULA FOR THE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION OF A THIN EXPONENTIAL DISC. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/773/2/183.
Sharma, Sanjib, & Bland-Hawthorn, Joss. AN EMPIRICAL FORMULA FOR THE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION OF A THIN EXPONENTIAL DISC. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/773/2/183
Sharma, Sanjib, and Bland-Hawthorn, Joss. 2013. "AN EMPIRICAL FORMULA FOR THE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION OF A THIN EXPONENTIAL DISC". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/773/2/183.
@article{osti_22130953,
title = {AN EMPIRICAL FORMULA FOR THE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION OF A THIN EXPONENTIAL DISC},
author = {Sharma, Sanjib and Bland-Hawthorn, Joss},
abstractNote = {An empirical formula for a Shu distribution function that reproduces a thin disc with exponential surface density to good accuracy is presented. The formula has two free parameters that specify the functional form of the velocity dispersion. Conventionally, this requires the use of an iterative algorithm to produce the correct solution, which is computationally taxing for applications like Markov Chain Monte Carlo model fitting. The formula has been shown to work for flat, rising, and falling rotation curves. Application of this methodology to one of the Dehnen distribution functions is also shown. Finally, an extension of this formula to reproduce velocity dispersion profiles that are an exponential function of radius is also presented. Our empirical formula should greatly aid the efficient comparison of disc models with large stellar surveys or N-body simulations.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/773/2/183},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22130953}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 2,
volume = 773,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}