Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-27gpq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T10:27:49.529Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Central mass accumulation in nuclear spirals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2007

Witold Maciejewski*
Affiliation:
Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Twelve Quays House, Egerton Wharf, Birkenhead CH41 1LD, UK; email: wxm@astro.livjm.ac.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In central regions of non-axisymmetric galaxies high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations indicate spiral shocks, which are capable of transporting gas inwards. The efficiency of transport is lower at smaller radii, therefore instead of all gas dropping onto the galactic centre, a roughly uniform distribution of high-density gas develops in the gaseous nuclear spiral downstream from the shock, and the shear in gas is very low there. These are excellent conditions for star formation. This mechanism is likely to contribute to the process of (pseudo-) bulge formation.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2008

References

Ann, H. B. 2005, J. Korean Astronomical Soc. 38, 121Google Scholar
Ann, H. B. & Thakur, P. 2005, ApJ 620, 197Google Scholar
di Matteo, P., Combes, F., Melchior, A.-L., & Semelin, B. 2007, A&A 468, 61Google Scholar
Englmaier, P. & Shlosman, I. 2000, ApJ 528, 677Google Scholar
Kormendy, J. & Kennicutt, R. C. 2004, ARAA 42, 603Google Scholar
Maciejewski, W. 2000, in: Combes, F., Mamon, G. A. & Charmandaris, V. (eds.), From the Early Universe to the Present, Proc. XVth IAP Meeting Dynamics of Galaxies (San Francisco: ASP), p. 63Google Scholar
Maciejewski, W. 2004a, MNRAS 354, 883Google Scholar
Maciejewski, W. 2004b, MNRAS 354, 892 (WM04b)Google Scholar
Maciejewski, W., Teuben, P. J., Sparke, L. S., & Stone, J. M. 2002, MNRAS 329, 502Google Scholar
Patsis, P. A. & Athanassoula, E. 2000, A&A 358, 45Google Scholar
Piner, B. G., Stone, J. M., & Teuben, P. J. 1995, ApJ 449, 508Google Scholar