Triggering of starbursts in galaxies by minor mergers

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (412) References (35) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Triggering of Starbursts in Galaxies by Minor Mergers Mihos, J. Christopher ; Hernquist, Lars Abstract Using numerical simulation, we explore the triggering of starburst activity in disk galaxies which accrete low-mass dwarf companions. In response to the tidal perturbation of an infalling satellite, a disk galaxy develops a strong two-armed spiral pattern, which in turn drives large quantities of disk gas into its central regions. The global star formation rate stays constant during the early stages of an accretion, before rising rapidly by an order of magnitude when the central gas density becomes very large. The associated central starburst is quite compact. Models which include a bulge component in the disk galaxy show that the presence of a bulge can suppress the radial gas flow and limit the strength of the associated starburst, depending on the overall mass profile. The fact that such relatively common "minor" mergers may trigger strong starburst activity suggests that many disk galaxies may have experienced starbursts at some point in their lifetime. Implications for galaxy evolution and formation are discussed. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: April 1994 DOI: 10.1086/187299 Bibcode: 1994ApJ...425L..13M Keywords: Astronomical Models; Computerized Simulation; Cosmology; Disk Galaxies; Dwarf Galaxies; Galactic Evolution; Galactic Structure; Interacting Galaxies; Starburst Galaxies; Deposition; Galactic Bulge; Hydrodynamics; Interstellar Matter; Many Body Problem; Stellar Evolution; Trees (Mathematics); Astrophysics; GALAXIES: INTERACTIONS; GALAXIES: STARBURST; GALAXIES: EVOLUTION; GALAXIES: STRUCTURE full text sources ADS |