Some fluid-dynamical problems in galaxies

Abstract

Galaxies are examined through their primary components of gas and stars. The normal spiral and barred spiral galaxies have gaseous and stellar constituents in a thin disk, with a prominent nuclear bulge in the inner parts. The gaseous disk of matter is considered as a large-scale motion of the interstellar medium in the presence of the collective gravitational field of the massive stellar component in normal and spiral galaxies. The stellar component is viewed from a fluid-dynamical perspective; finally the asymptotic theory, dynamical mechanisms, and modal maintenance are discussed.