Galactic Dynamics

Kathryn V. Johnston (Wesleyan University)

Abstract:

The next generation of astrometric satellite missions will for the first time be capable of mapping the full phase-space distribution of stars in the Galaxy (or indeed, any galaxy): a dynamicist's "dream-come-true".

In this talk I will first review the phase-space scales relevant for the study of Galactic Dynamics and compare them to the capabilities of past and future missions. I will then go on to discuss the implications for four topics in particular: measuring the Sun's position relative to and motion around the Galactic center; the rotation curve of the Milky Way; the structure of the dark matter halo; and the the formation of the Galaxy. I will conclude with a list of other relevant topics in Galactic Dynamics.

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References:

References for general background on dynamics and the Milky Way

• Galactic Dynamics
  Binney and Tremaine (the dynamicist's Bible!)

• Galactic Astronomy
  Binney and Merrifield

Galactic Structure topics covered by the GAIA mission

** http://astro.estec.esa.nl/GAIA/Science/Science.html

Papers on specific topics covered in the talk

• R_0, v_lsr and the Galactic rotation curve
  • ** Olling, R. P. and Merrifield, M. R. 1998, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 297, 943

• Probing the dark matter halo
  • Kochanek, C. S. 1996, Astrophys. J. 457, 228
  • ** Johnston, K. V., Zhao, H. S., Spergel, D. N. and Hernquist, L. 1999, Astrophys. J. Letters 512, L49
  • ** Wilkinson, M.I. and Evans, N.W., 1999, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 310, 645

• Constraints on hierarchical galaxy formation scenarios
  • Johnston, K.V. 1998, Astrophys. J. 495, 297
  • Helmi, A. and White, S.D. 1999, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 307, 495
  • ** Helmi, A., White, S.D., de Zeeuw, P.T. and Zhao, H.S. 1999, Nature, 402, 53
  • ** Helmi, A. and de Zeeuw, P.T., 2000, astro-ph/0007166