Dynamics of the Milky Way: Tidal Streams and Extended Distribution Functions for the Galactic Disc

ISBN-13: 9783319369945 / Angielski / Miękka / 2016 / 264 str.

Jason Sanders

Opis

This work presents a study of methods useful for modeling and understanding dynamical systems in the Galaxy. A natural coordinate system for the study of dynamical systems is the angle-action coordinate system.

Spis treści

Introduction.- Angle-Action Estimation in a General Axisymmetric Potential.- Actions, Angles and Frequencies from Numerically Integrated Orbits.- Action Estimation Using a Triaxial Stäckel Approximation.- Stream-Orbit Misalignment.- Stream Modelling in Angle-Frequency Space.- Determining the Velocity Dispersion of the Thick Disc.- Extended Distribution Functions for the Galactic Disc.- Conclusions.

Blurb

This work presents a study of methods useful for modeling and understanding dynamical systems in the Galaxy. A natural coordinate system for the study of dynamical systems is the angle-action coordinate system. New methods for the approximation of the action-angle variables in general potentials are presented and discussed. These new tools are applied to the construction of dynamical models for two of the Galaxy’s components: tidal streams and the Galactic disc. Tidal streams are remnants of tidally stripped satellites in the Milky Way that experience the effects of the large scale structure of the Galactic gravitational potential, while the Galactic disc provides insights into the nature of the Galaxy near the Sun. Appropriate action-based models are presented and discussed for these components, and extended to include further information such as the metallicity of stars.