Spherical galaxy collisions - head-on encounters

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167042· OSTI ID:6286707

Navarro, J F; Mosconi, M B

A series of N-body simulations was performed in order to investigate head-on encounters between equal mass spherical galaxies of similar structure. Two different types of galaxy models were used in the experiments, differing mainly in the velocity distribution and central concentration: in the first kind of model, most of the particles moved predominantly along eccentric orbits, while in the second type most of the halo kinetic energy resided on the tangential velocity components of the particles and the core was rather isotropic. The fractional internal energy gain that a galaxy experiences after a head-on encounter was found to depend slightly on the type of orbits which predominate in the galaxy. The exchange of particles in a head-on collision is negligible. Tandem encounters are progressively more effective in producing escapers. The bounce induced by the overlapping at pericentric passage tends to erase the initial conditions of the galaxy models. 19 references.

• Research Organization: Observatorio Astronomico, Cordoba (Argentina)
• OSTI ID: 6286707
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 336; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
COLLISIONS
CONFIGURATION
ENERGY
GALAXIES
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INTERACTIONS
KINETIC ENERGY
MANY-BODY PROBLEM
MASS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MORPHOLOGY
SIMULATION
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION