Searching for ghosts in the galactic halo: What can we learn about the formation of the Galaxy from the stellar halo?

Details Searching for ghosts in the galactic halo: What can we learn about the formation of the Galaxy from the stellar halo? Searching for ghosts in the galactic halo: What can we learn about the formation of the Galaxy from the stellar halo?

Jun 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006rmxac..26...51a&link_type=abstract

XI IAU Regional Latin American Meeting of Astronomy (Eds. L. Infante & M. Rubio) Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica (S

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Methods: Numerical, Galaxy: Formation, Galaxy: Structure, Galaxies: Interactions

Scientific paper

We study the feasibility of recovering information of remnants of tidally disrupted satellite galaxies in the halo of our Galaxy, using space astrometry from Gaia. This mission will provide a very large data set ( ˜ 10^9 stars) with an unprecedent level of detail in phase space (tens of μs). However, before recovering useful information, sampling biases, observational errors and the stellar galactic background must be taken into account.
We present a Monte Carlo simulation of the Gaia catalogue that excludes the galactic disk (|b|<5^o) within the first and fourth galactic quadrants. The simulated catalogue contains a realistic number of stars (3×10^8), and for each we have simulated kinematic and photometric information. No interstellar extinction is included. We simulate the destruction of satellite galaxies in the Galactic halo, using 10^6-particle satellites moving within a fixed potential that represents the Galaxy. Photometric information is added assuming particular isochrones and simulation snapshots are added to the simulated catalogue. All phase-space data is converted to astrometric observables. We then add observational errors to all simulated Gaia observables according to a realistic model that includes dependence on apparent magnitude, color and ecliptic latitude.
We test the feasibility of recovering past merger signatures in the energy vs. angular momentum plane. We conclude that recovery is possible, but a pre-selection of high signal-to-noise data as well as complementary photometric criteria must be used. The numerical tool here developed can be employed to test the feasibility of other search criteria.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Searching for ghosts in the galactic halo: What can we learn about the formation of the Galaxy from the stellar halo? 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 Searching for ghosts in the galactic halo: What can we learn about the formation of the Galaxy from the stellar halo?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Searching for ghosts in the galactic halo: What can we learn about the formation of the Galaxy from the stellar halo? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1478624