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Theoretical Considerations on the Dynamics of Normal Galactic Nuclei

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2016

Robert H. Sanders
Robert H. Sanders*
Affiliation:
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen

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I want to discuss the origin of non-circular gas motions observed in the nuclei of normal spiral galaxies and the possibility that recurring violent activity in normal nuclei excites such motion. But first, let us review several basic aspects of the nearest normal galactic nucleus — the nucleus of our own Galaxy.

The rotation curve as observed in the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen gives some indication of the form of the gravitational field in the central region of the Galaxy. Figure 1 is a smooth fit to the rotation curve in the inner few kiloparsecs (solid line) taken essentially from the data of Rougoor and Oort (1960) and Simonson and Mader (1973). This rotation curve, within 1 kpc of the centre, is completely accounted for by the mass distribution implied by the extended 2.2-μ emission (Becklin and Neugebauer 1968, Oort 1971). Moreover, there is little doubt that this centrally condensed mass distribution should be identified with the bulge or spheroidal component of the Galaxy, because the spatial distribution of the 2.2-μ intensity is practically identical to the distribution of visible starlight in the bulge of M31 (Sandage, Becklin, and Neugebauer 1969). The conclusion is that the bulge overwhelmingly dominates the gravitational field inside of 1 kpc.

Type
Joint Discussion
Information
Highlights of Astronomy , Volume 5: Highlights of Astronomy. As presented at the XVIIth General Assembly of the IAU, 1979 , 1980 , pp. 197 - 204
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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