Open AccessDiscrete spiral modes in disk galaxies: Some numerical examples based on density wave theory
Author(s) -
G. Bertin,
Y. Y. Lau,
ChungYen Lin,
J. W. K. Mark,
L. Sugiyama
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.74.11.4726
Subject(s) - spiral (railway) , physics , spiral galaxy , barred spiral galaxy , galaxy , interacting galaxy , astrophysics , basis (linear algebra) , lenticular galaxy , density wave theory , unbarred spiral galaxy , classical mechanics , galaxy formation and evolution , geometry , mathematics , mathematical analysis
Discrete growing spiral modes are calculated, on the basis of principles of stellar dynamics, according to the recently developed asymptotic theory of density waves for spiral structure in galaxies. From the growth rates obtained, it appears likely that several spiral modes coexist in a given disk galaxy. General properties of these modes are described for two galaxy models, and some of their important observational implications are discussed.