Spokes in ring galaxies

Abstract

We examine the response of self-gravitating primary galaxies consisting of dark matter halos and disks containing both stars and gas to collisions with less massive companions. The primaries were constructed using a technique which makes it possible to realize multi-component systems that are stable and virtually in precise equilibrium. A total of 65,536 particles were employed to represent the primary and 4096 to represent the companion. Half the particles in the primary comprise its halo and the other half its disk. Gas makes up 10 percent of the disk mass and is represented by 8192 of the disk particles. A system of units is used where the gravitational constant, total disk mass, and disk exponential scale length are unity. The primary motivation of the present study is to determine whether effects associated with dissipation and self-gravity can account for the unusual morphology of the Cartwheel galaxy.