The Morphology and Pattern Speed of Spiral Structure
Abstract
We consider the spiral structure arising from the gravitational influence of massive perturbers corotating in a stellar disk. Within a single rotation period our simulations develop a prominent, large-scale response, covering a broad range of spiral galaxy morphologies. In contrast, identical systems in the absence of perturbers show no such features. Measuring radial variation of the spiral pattern speed Ωp using a modified Tremaine-Weinberg method, we find that the pattern speed both decreases with radius and closely follows the circular velocity of the disk.
- Publication:
-
Advances in Computational Astrophysics: Methods, Tools, and Outcome
- Pub Date:
- July 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012ASPC..453..369N