Orbital Deformation of Satellites by Dynamical Friction in Spherical Halos with Anisotropic Velocity Dispersion

Details Orbital Deformation of Satellites by Dynamical Friction in Spherical Halos with Anisotropic Velocity Dispersion Orbital Deformation of Satellites by Dynamical Friction in Spherical Halos with Anisotropic Velocity Dispersion

Mar 2000

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000apj...532..294t&link_type=abstract

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 532, Issue 1, pp. 294-301.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

5

Celestial Mechanics, Stellar Dynamics, Galaxies: Interactions

Scientific paper

Deformation of satellite orbits around a spherical galaxy is considered. In general, a satellite sinks into the center of its parent galaxy by dynamical friction. Unless the orbit is exactly circular, the orbital shape changes, owing to a difference in decaying rate between energy and angular momentum. This deformation depends on the density and velocity distributions of the surrounding galactic halo. We have made a perturbative analysis of the orbital deformation in a scale-free halo that has a density profile ρ~rn(-3<=n<=0), with anisotropic velocity dispersion characterized by β=1- σ2θ/σ2r(- 1<=β<=1). We classify four major effects on the orbital deformation. The dominant effect originates from the density gradient for n<-2 and the gradient of velocity dispersion for n>-2. Both effects lead to more circular orbits. Larger β makes the rate of orbital circularization smaller. For positive β (radially dominated anisotropy), initially eccentric orbits conserve their shape during orbital decay when the velocity dispersion is radially dominated.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Orbital Deformation of Satellites by Dynamical Friction in Spherical Halos with Anisotropic Velocity Dispersion 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 Orbital Deformation of Satellites by Dynamical Friction in Spherical Halos with Anisotropic Velocity Dispersion, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Orbital Deformation of Satellites by Dynamical Friction in Spherical Halos with Anisotropic Velocity Dispersion will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1429225