Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 1997
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997aas...191.2401f&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, 191st AAS Meeting, #24.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 29, p.1250
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
We have identified a previously unknown preferred plane orientation for gaseous disks in oblate spheroidal gravitational potential wells such as the dark matter halos of galaxies. Three-dimensional numerical hydrodynamic simulations show that, even when the self-gravity of the gas is ignored, gas can settle into a steady-state disk configuration that is inclined to the equatorial plane of the halo. In steady-state, the gas moves in nonprecessing, elliptical orbits, hence the disk is not disrupted by differential precession. (A corresponding analytical model for such a steady-state disk configuration also has been derived for potential wells that deviate only slightly from a perfect sphere.) Gas in this steady-state flow experiences periodic phases of compression and rarefaction during each orbit, which could naturally promote a steady rate of star formation. However, stars that are formed in such an inclined disk of gas will not occupy periodic orbits. Differential precession of stellar orbits should ultimately create a stellar ``disk'' that is thicker than, but surrounds, the gaseous disk from which the stars formed.
Fisher Paul L.
Tohline Joel E.
No associations
LandOfFree
Nonaxisymmetric Equilibrium Models for Gaseous Galaxy Disks 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 Nonaxisymmetric Equilibrium Models for Gaseous Galaxy Disks, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Nonaxisymmetric Equilibrium Models for Gaseous Galaxy Disks will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1173598