Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T16:29:22.355Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dynamics of Rotating Stellar Systems: Collapse and Violent Relaxation*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2015

J. Richard Gott III
J. Richard Gott III*
Affiliation:
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif, U.S.A.

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Axisymmetric systems, having differing amounts of initial angular momentum and containing 2000 stars (mass points) each, are allowed to collapse under their own gravitational attraction. Collapse and violent relaxation are found to lead to the formation of equilibrium structures after only a few free-fall times. The systems contain a sufficient number of mass points so as to be effectively collisionless and the equilibrium structures are consistent with accurate satisfaction of the stationary collisionless Boltzmann equation. Rotating equilibrium models produced in this way resemble elliptical galaxies, with elliptical isophotes. With cosmologically reasonable amounts of initial angular momentum, E0 to E4.5 galaxies can be produced. The equilibrium models show rotation curves in general agreement with that expected from violent relaxation theory. In particular the models show a central region with solid-body rotation. Further out, the systems become differentially rotating. When infall effects are included one can produce models with extended envelopes in good agreement with observed elliptical galaxies. It is suggested that the crucial factor in determining whether an elliptical or a spiral galaxy is formed is whether or not star formation is complete by the time the proto-galaxy reaches its point of maximum collapse.

Type
Research Article
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 58: The Formation and Dynamics of Galaxies , 1974 , pp. 181 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1974 

References

Gott, J. R. III: 1973, Astrophys. J. 186, 481.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gott, J. R. III and Gunn, J. E.: 1971, Astrophys. J. Letters 169, L13.Google Scholar
Lynden-Bell, D.: 1967, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 136, 101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peebles, P. J. E.: 1971, Astron. Astrophys. 11, 377.Google Scholar
Peebles, P. J. E. and Dicke, R. H.: 1968, Astrophys. J. 154, 891.Google Scholar
Prendergast, K. H. and Tomer, E.: 1970, Astron. J. 75, 674.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spitzer, L. Jr.: 1968, Diffuse Matter in Space, Wiley and Sons, New York.Google Scholar