Open AccessExact equilibria of a stellar system in a linearized tidal field
Author(s) -
Mitchell David G. M.,
Heggie Douglas C.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.11456.x
Subject(s) - physics , ellipsoid , star cluster , astrophysics , galaxy , stellar dynamics , cluster (spacecraft) , stars , circular orbit , orbit (dynamics) , tidal acceleration , classical mechanics , astronomy , planet , computer science , engineering , programming language , aerospace engineering
We study the motion of stars in a star cluster which revolves in a circular orbit about its parent galaxy. The star cluster is modelled as an ellipsoid of uniform spatial density. We exhibit two two‐parameter families of self‐consistent equilibrium models in which the velocity at each point is confined to a line in velocity space. We exhibit the link between this problem and that of a uniform rotating ellipsoidal galaxy. With minimal adaptation, Freeman's bar models yield a third family.