Stability of Collisionless Stellar Systems

Mechanisms for the Dynamical Structure of Galaxies
1. Auflage. Softcover version of original hardcover Auflage 1994
ISBN: 978-90-481-4315-3
Verlag: Springer Netherlands

Buch, Englisch, Band 185, 350 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 140 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 458 g

Reihe: Astrophysics and Space Science Library

Recent advances in our understanding of instabilities in galactic type systems have led to an unravelling of some of the mysteries of what determines the form galaxies take. This book focuses on the mathematical development of the subject, assuming no prior knowledge of it, with a strong emphasis on the underlying physical interpretation. This framework is used to discuss the most relevant instabilities which are believed to be closely involved in the way galaxies are formed, in a model independent manner. The relevant observed properties of galaxies that may be used to establish the role of these physical mechanisms are discussed.
The book also includes a chapter discussing numerical simulation techniques, with attention paid to their limitations and to recent advances in this approach. It is demonstrated that recent developments in computer hardware enable a detailed comparison of simulations with analysis. Thus the simulations extend our physical understanding beyond the limitations of the analysis.
The book is intended for use by postgraduate students and researchers in the areas of cosmology, extragalactic astronomy and dynamics.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Palmer, P. L.

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Technik Allgemein Computeranwendungen in der Technik
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Galaxien und Sterne
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Physik Allgemein Theoretische Physik, Mathematische Physik, Computerphysik
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Astronomie: Allgemeines
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Angewandte Informatik Computeranwendungen in Wissenschaft & Technologie
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Forschung und Information Datenanalyse, Datenverarbeitung
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Angewandte Physik Astrophysik
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Kosmologie, Urknalltheorie
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Astrophysik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1 Introduction.- 2 Description of the Orbital Motions.- 3 General Perturbation Theory.- 4 Constructing Equilibrium Models.- 5 Non-Rotating Spherical Systems.- 6 Isotropic Systems.- 7 Anisotropic Spherical Systems.- 8 Spherical Systems with Rotation.- 9 Axisymmetric Systems.- 10 Numerical Modelling Techniques.- 11 Non-Linear Evolution and Endstates.- 12 Disc Galaxies.- A Setting up N Body Datasets.- A.1 Generalised Polytropes with a Central Point Mass.- B Spherical Harmonic Addition Theorem.- C Expansion of Spherical Harmonics in Orbital Parameters.- C.1 Orthogonality Relations.- D The Poisson Operator for Axisymmetric Discs.- D.1 The Poisson Operator for General Non-Axisymmetric Perturbations.- References.