Gas and Galaxy Formation
Abstract
The theory of galaxy formation is reviewed briefly. From the evidence of clusters today, the primordial gas fraction was 20% or more. Thus, while the Universe is dominated by dark matter, gas plays an appreciable role in galaxy formation. Collapses of dwarf protogalaxies produce predominantly cold gas. It is argued that, in such cold collapses, the collapsed gas is largely self-gravitating. As a result, gas processes play a critical role in determining the visible structure of galaxies.
- Publication:
-
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
- Pub Date:
- April 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1071/AS99003
- Bibcode:
- 1999PASA...16....3N
- Keywords:
-
- GALAXY FORMATION;
- galaxies: formation