Formation of Intermediate-Scale Structures in Spiral Galaxies

Details Formation of Intermediate-Scale Structures in Spiral Galaxies Formation of Intermediate-Scale Structures in Spiral Galaxies

Dec 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004jkas...37..243k&link_type=abstract

Journal of the Korean Astronomical Society, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 243-248

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Galaxies: Ism, Galaxies: Structure, Instabilities, Ism: Kinematics And Dynamics, Ism: Magnetic Fields, Mhd

Scientific paper

Disk galaxies abound with intermediate-scale structures such as OB star complexes, giant clouds, and dust spurs in a close geometrical association with spiral arms. Various mechanisms have been proposed as candidates for their origin, but a comprehensive theory should encompass fundamental physical agents such as self-gravity, magnetic fields, galactic differential rotation, and spiral arms, all of which are known to exist in disk galaxies. Recent numerical simulations incorporating all these physical processes show that magneto-Jeans instability (MJI), in which magnetic tension resists the stabilizing Coriolis force of galaxy rotation, is much more powerful than swing-amplification or the Parker instability in forming self-gravitating intermediate-scale structures. The MJI occurring in shearing and expanding flows off spiral arms rapidly forms structures elongated along the direction perpendicular to the arms, remarkably similar to dust spurs seen in HST images of spiral galaxies. In highly nonlinear stages, these spurs fragment to form bound clumps, possibly evolving into bright arm and interarm H II regions, suggesting that all these intermediate-scale structures in spiral galaxies probably share a common dynamical origin.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Formation of Intermediate-Scale Structures in Spiral Galaxies does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Formation of Intermediate-Scale Structures in Spiral Galaxies, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Formation of Intermediate-Scale Structures in Spiral Galaxies will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1086241