The Disruption of a Small Disc Galaxy by a Massive Elliptical |
| |
| Authors: | RA James A Wilkinson |
| |
| Institution: | (1) Astronomy Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K.;(2) NRAL, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K. |
| |
| Abstract: | N-body simulations of the capture of a small disc galaxy by a massive elliptical primary show that tidal forces destroy the
inner part of the disc in a brief episode at some critical distance from the centre of the primary. We suggest that this phase
may be characterised by chaotic motions in the disc material causing a burst of star formation. Such an event would offer
a natural explanation of the colour differences between stars in shells around an elliptical galaxy and those in the galaxy
itself. We report a study of orbits in the disc prior to and during its disruption, designed to test this hypothesis.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
