Long-lived spiral waves in N-body simulationsResults of N-body simulations of disc galaxies using a two-dimensional Cartesian N-body code are presented. Both trailing arm spirals (TAS) and leading arm spirals (LAS) were used with varieties of pitch angles and pattern speeds. LAS perturbations transferred their energy to TAS via swing amplification; TAS perturbations led to TAS arms. In both cases the spiral arms persisted for more than 5 rotation periods, but the maximum amplitude 2-armed spirals were generated by LAS perturbations. The persistence of the trailing arm spiral waves is thought to be caused by the kinematic spiral arm mechanism described by Kalnajs (1973).
Document ID
19900064415
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Comins, Neil F. (Maine Univ. Orono, ME, United States)
Schroeder, Michael C. (Maine, University Orono, United States)