Boxy/peanut and discy bulges: formation, evolution and properties
Abstract
The class `bulges' contains objects with very different formation and evolution paths and very different properties. I review two types of `bulges', the boxy/peanut bulges (B/Ps) and the discy bulges. The former are parts of bars seen edge-on, have their origin in vertical instabilities of the disc and are somewhat shorter in extent than bars. Their stellar population is similar to that of the inner part of the disc from which they formed. Discy bulges have a disc-like outline, i.e., seen face-on they are circular or oval and seen edge-on they are thin. Their extent is of the order of 5 times smaller than that of the boxy/peanut bulges. They form from the inflow of mainly gaseous material to the centre of the galaxy and from subsequent star formation. They thus contain a lot of young stars and gas. Bulges of different types often coexist in the same galaxy. I review the main known results on these two types of bulges and present new simulation results.
- Publication:
-
Formation and Evolution of Galaxy Bulges
- Pub Date:
- July 2008
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S1743921308017389
- Bibcode:
- 2008IAUS..245...93A
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: bulges;
- galaxies: evolution;
- galaxies: formation;
- galaxies: kinematics and dynamics;
- stellar dynamics;
- methods: N-body simulations