Multiple Core Galaxies

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Session 79 -- Structure of Galaxies
Display presentation, Friday, January 14, 9:30-6:45, Salons I/II Room (Crystal Gateway)

[79.07] Multiple Core Galaxies

B.F. Smith (NASA/Ames), R.H. Miller (U. Chicago)

Nuclei of galaxies often show complicated density structures and kinematic signatures. In the past we have reported numerical experiments indicating a natural tendency for galaxy centers to be offset and dynamically complex. We have also presented results of experiments which show that galaxies can oscillate undamped for a Hubble time. Recent observational evidence shows multiple cores in several galaxies (M31, Markarian 315 and 463 for example). Numerical experiments have indicated this feature for some time. We have investigated a series of multiple core galaxies, starting with two cores. The relevant parameters are the energy in the orbiting clumps, their relative masses, the depth and strength of the potential well representing the parent galaxy, and the number of cores. We have studied the dependence of the merger rates and the nature of the final merger product on these parameters. Individual cores can survive for a long time, a Hubble time in some cases. A video showing the time behavior of several of the experiments will be presented.

Friday program listing