A minor-merger origin for inner disks and rings in early-type galaxies

Nuclear disks and rings are frequent galaxy substructures, for a wide range of morphological types [from S0 to Sc, see e.g., 6, 8]. We have investigated the possible minor-merger origin of inner disks and rings in spiral galaxies through collisionless N-body simulations. The models confirm that mino...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Eliche Moral, María del Carmen, González García, A. C., Balcells, M., Aguerri, J. A. L., Gallego Maestro, Jesús, Zamorano Calvo, Jaime
Tipo de recurso: capítulo de libro
Fecha de publicación:2010
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/45748
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/45748
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:52
Star-formation
Astrofísica
Astronomía (Física)
Descripción
Sumario:Nuclear disks and rings are frequent galaxy substructures, for a wide range of morphological types [from S0 to Sc, see e.g., 6, 8]. We have investigated the possible minor-merger origin of inner disks and rings in spiral galaxies through collisionless N-body simulations. The models confirm that minor mergers can drive the formation of thin, kinematically-cold structures in the center of galaxies out of satellite material, without requiring the previous formation of a bar. Satellite core particles tend to be deposited in circular orbits in the central potential, due to the strong circularization experienced by the satellite orbit through dynamical friction. The material of the satellite core reaches the remnant center if satellites are dense or massive, building up a thin inner disk; whereas it is fully disrupted before reaching the center in the case of low-mass satellites, creating an inner ring instead.