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Interaction between the Galactic Disk and Halo Components
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
Extract
At least three component parts of the galaxy must be recognized. The Disk Component of the galaxy might be defined as follows. Spatially it is largely confined between the planes ± 1 kpc from the plane of symmetry. With regard to velocities, it is a cold subsystem in that the random motions within it (~ 20 km/s) are small compared to the systematic flow of rotational motion (~ 200 km/s). Finally, its composition is largely stellar with stars of all ages and masses being present. Few galaxies are known where the ratio of (gas/stellar) mass is > 10% (cf. Roberts 1975a), and the metal abundance is typically high with at most one percent of the stars having metallicity less than 1/4 that of the Sun (cf. Schmidt 1963). From this point of view the spiral parts are a relatively unimportant (in terms of mass and composition) sub-part of the disk system.
- Type
- Part IV: Kinematics and Dynamical Evolution of the Galaxy
- Information
- International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 45: Chemical and Dynamical Evolution of our Galaxy , September 1977 , pp. 241 - 246
- Copyright
- Copyright © Geneva Observatory 1977
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