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Does the Second Caustic Ring of Dark Matter Cause the Monoceros Ring of Stars ?

Authors :
Natarajan, Aravind
Sikivie, Pierre
Source :
Phys.Rev.D76:023505,2007
Publication Year :
2007

Abstract

Caustic rings of dark matter were predicted to exist in the plane of the Galaxy at radii $a_n \simeq 40 {\rm kpc}/n$ for $n = 1,2,3 ..$. The recently discovered Monoceros Ring of stars is located near the $n=2$ caustic, prompting us to consider a possible connection between these two objects. We identify two processes through which the Monoceros Ring of stars may have formed. One process is the migration of gas to an angular velocity minimum at the caustic leading to enhanced star formation there. The other is the adiabatic deformation of star orbits as the caustic slowly grows in mass and radius. The second process predicts an order 100% enhancement of the density of disk stars at the location of the caustic ring.<br />Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures

Subjects

Subjects :
Astrophysics

Details

Database :
arXiv
Journal :
Phys.Rev.D76:023505,2007
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.0705.0001
Document Type :
Working Paper
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.76.023505