Simulational studies of the formation and properties of ring galaxies and leading one-arm spirals due to galaxy encounters

Miscellaneous · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5503302

Lotan-luban, P

Simulational studies of colliding disk galaxies are presented, using restricted three-body, hydrodynamical, and kinematic model methods. Depending on the collision parameters, two seemingly different types of disturbed galaxies arise: ring galaxies and leading one-arm spirals. The first research project consists of a quantitative in-depth study of the properties of ring galaxies and their dependence on the collision parameters and the structures of the colliding galaxies. The second research project deals with effects of dynamical friction and nearly head-on multiple passages and merger on a disk galaxy. In the simulations, it is found that for realistic parameters, encounters may give rise to the merger of a ring galaxy with its intruding companion. Furthermore, the multiple passages and merger generate various features in the target disk which are distinct from the structures characteristic of simulated single-passage rings. In view of these differences, a physical classification of collisional ring galaxies based on the presence of an apparent companion, as well as the morphology and kinematics of the target disk is proposed. For a different range of collisional parameters (a single nearly perpendicular, off-center passage of a companion through a disk galaxy), a leading one-arm spiral is formed. Furthermore, the simulations suggest an intimate relationship between ring galaxies, and leading one-arm spirals. The degree of off-centeredness of the perpendicular collision determines which of the two types will form. A method for evaluating the gravitational field created by a flattened mass distribution for use in our restricted three-body code was developed.

• Research Organization: Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames, IA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5503302
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
GALAXIES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
INTERACTIONS
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
MASS DISTRIBUTION
THEORETICAL DATA
DATA
DISTRIBUTION
INFORMATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL DATA
SIMULATION
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies