arXiv subjects

David Merritt

Publications and source records attributed to David Merritt.

182 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

arXiv1995

Cluster Dynamics and Cluster Masses

In spite of the promise of new techniques for constraining the mass distribution in galaxy clusters, much remains to be learned from galaxy orbital velocities. This article reviews the theory of potential estimation in hot dynamical systems like galaxy clusters. An analysis is presented of the Coma cluster, based on a sample of about 1500 galaxies with probable membership, of which 450 have measured velocities. We find no significant evidence for a core in either the galaxy number densities or the mass distribution.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1995

Chaos and Elliptical Galaxies

Recent results on chaos in triaxial galaxy models are reviewed. Central mass concentrations like those observed in early-type galaxies -- either stellar cusps, or massive black holes -- render most of the box orbits in a triaxial potential stochastic. Typical Liapunov times are 3-5 crossing times, and ensembles of stochastic orbits undergo mixing on time scales that are roughly an order of magnitude longer. The replacement of the regular orbits by stochastic orbits reduces the freedom to construct self-consistent equilibria, and strong triaxiality can be ruled out for galaxies with sufficiently high central mass concentrations.

astro-ph↗