N-body Simulations of Galaxy Bars Generated by Satellite Collisions: Effects of the Impact Geometry
Bars, a common and important structure in disk galaxies, can be induced by galaxy interactions. Although there have been some studies on bar formation in flybys or collisions, the vast parameter space still leaves many scenarios that require further investigation. Here, we focus on the role of colli...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aded87 |
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| author | Yufan Fane Zhou Zhiyuan Li Hui Li |
| author_facet | Yufan Fane Zhou Zhiyuan Li Hui Li |
| author_sort | Yufan Fane Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bars, a common and important structure in disk galaxies, can be induced by galaxy interactions. Although there have been some studies on bar formation in flybys or collisions, the vast parameter space still leaves many scenarios that require further investigation. Here, we focus on the role of collisions caused by small galaxies (denoted as intruders), referred to as satellite collisions, in bar formation for MW/M31-like galaxies (denoted as target galaxies). Multiple sets of simulations with varying intruder initial velocities, inclination angles, collision positions, and intruder masses were run to study the dependence of this mechanism on these parameters. Our simulations show that bar formation favors moderate collision velocity, large inclination angle, off-center collision position, and large intruder mass. However, the bar’s pattern speed and length are insensitive to these parameters, as the intruder’s mass is relatively small compared to that of the target galaxy itself. Moreover, based on our tests, the intruder mass should be more than ∼3 × 10 ^9 M _⊙ in order for this bar formation mechanism to operate effectively in MW/M31-like galaxies. Our work suggests the possibility that satellite collisions may have contributed, to some extent, to the bar formation in the Milky Way or M31. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a209fd00e34949e0b4ea86372fa30199 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
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| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-a209fd00e34949e0b4ea86372fa301992025-08-20T02:47:05ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01988220510.3847/1538-4357/aded87N-body Simulations of Galaxy Bars Generated by Satellite Collisions: Effects of the Impact GeometryYufan Fane Zhou0https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0194-6211Zhiyuan Li1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0355-6437Hui Li2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1253-2763School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210046, People’s Republic of China ; yufanz@smail.nju.edu.cn, lizy@nju.edu.cn; Key Laboratory of Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics (Nanjing University) , Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210046, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210046, People’s Republic of China ; yufanz@smail.nju.edu.cn, lizy@nju.edu.cn; Key Laboratory of Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics (Nanjing University) , Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210046, People’s Republic of China; Institute of Science and Technology for Deep Space Exploration, Suzhou Campus, Nanjing University , Suzhou 215163, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Astronomy, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, People’s Republic of ChinaBars, a common and important structure in disk galaxies, can be induced by galaxy interactions. Although there have been some studies on bar formation in flybys or collisions, the vast parameter space still leaves many scenarios that require further investigation. Here, we focus on the role of collisions caused by small galaxies (denoted as intruders), referred to as satellite collisions, in bar formation for MW/M31-like galaxies (denoted as target galaxies). Multiple sets of simulations with varying intruder initial velocities, inclination angles, collision positions, and intruder masses were run to study the dependence of this mechanism on these parameters. Our simulations show that bar formation favors moderate collision velocity, large inclination angle, off-center collision position, and large intruder mass. However, the bar’s pattern speed and length are insensitive to these parameters, as the intruder’s mass is relatively small compared to that of the target galaxy itself. Moreover, based on our tests, the intruder mass should be more than ∼3 × 10 ^9 M _⊙ in order for this bar formation mechanism to operate effectively in MW/M31-like galaxies. Our work suggests the possibility that satellite collisions may have contributed, to some extent, to the bar formation in the Milky Way or M31.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aded87Galaxy collisionsGalaxy evolutionN-body simulationsBarred spiral galaxies |
| spellingShingle | Yufan Fane Zhou Zhiyuan Li Hui Li N-body Simulations of Galaxy Bars Generated by Satellite Collisions: Effects of the Impact Geometry The Astrophysical Journal Galaxy collisions Galaxy evolution N-body simulations Barred spiral galaxies |
| title | N-body Simulations of Galaxy Bars Generated by Satellite Collisions: Effects of the Impact Geometry |
| title_full | N-body Simulations of Galaxy Bars Generated by Satellite Collisions: Effects of the Impact Geometry |
| title_fullStr | N-body Simulations of Galaxy Bars Generated by Satellite Collisions: Effects of the Impact Geometry |
| title_full_unstemmed | N-body Simulations of Galaxy Bars Generated by Satellite Collisions: Effects of the Impact Geometry |
| title_short | N-body Simulations of Galaxy Bars Generated by Satellite Collisions: Effects of the Impact Geometry |
| title_sort | n body simulations of galaxy bars generated by satellite collisions effects of the impact geometry |
| topic | Galaxy collisions Galaxy evolution N-body simulations Barred spiral galaxies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aded87 |
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