arXiv · 1607.01953
Long-Lived Spiral Structure for Galaxies with Intermediate Size Bulges
Abstract
Spiral structure in disk galaxies is modeled with nine collisionless N-body simulations including live disks, halos, and bulges with a range of masses. Two of these simulations make long-lasting and strong two-arm spiral wave modes that last for $\sim5$ Gyr with constant pattern speed. These two had a light stellar disk and the largest values of the Toomre $Q$ parameter in the inner region at the time the spirals formed, suggesting the presence of a Q-barrier to wave propagation resulting from the bulge. The relative bulge mass in these cases is about 10\%. Models with weak two-arm spirals had pattern speeds that followed the radial dependence of the Inner Lindblad Resonance.
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Kanak Saha, Bruce Elmegreen. 2016-07-07. Long-Lived Spiral Structure for Galaxies with Intermediate Size Bulges. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8205/826/2/l21
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