Tidal interaction of galaxies

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Astrophys. J., Suppl. Ser.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/190556· OSTI ID:6418196

Knobloch, E

In this paper we investigate the effect of weak tidal interactions among galaxies in clusters. We obtain the Fokker-Planck coefficients for this process by making use of the impulse approximation. We assume that the outer regions of a galaxy are well described by isotropically distributed stellar orbits with small angular momenta. In this case the stellar distribution function is a function of energy and time only. We are able to solve the resulting Fokker-Planck equation for power-law potentials, and find that there are no globally self-consistent solutions of this type. Our calculation indicates that stars are preferentially stripped from the outer regions rather than forming a relaxed extended envelope. We conclude that the effect of the fluctuating term in the tidal force is qualitatively similar to that of the usual secular term.

• Research Organization: Harvard College Observatory
• OSTI ID: 6418196
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Suppl. Ser.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Suppl. Ser.; (United States) Vol. 38:3; ISSN APJSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
BASIC INTERACTIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION
GALAXIES
GALAXY CLUSTERS
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INTERACTIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MILKY WAY
STAR MODELS
STARS