暗物质晕中的星系瓦解。

Galaxy disruption in a halo of dark matter.

作者信息

Forbes Duncan A, Beasley Michael A, Bekki Kenji, Brodie Jean P, Strader Jay

机构信息

Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology, Post Office Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia.

出版信息

Science. 2003 Aug 29;301(5637):1217-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1089237. Epub 2003 Aug 7.

DOI:10.1126/science.1089237

PMID:12907809

Abstract

The relics of disrupted satellite galaxies have been found around the Milky Way and Andromeda, but direct evidence of a satellite galaxy in the early stages of disruption has remained elusive. We have discovered a dwarf satellite galaxy in the process of being torn apart by gravitational tidal forces as it merges with a larger galaxy's dark matter halo. Our results illustrate the morphological transformation of dwarf galaxies by tidal interaction and the continued buildup of galaxy halos.

摘要

在银河系和仙女座周围已经发现了被破坏的卫星星系遗迹，但在破坏早期阶段的卫星星系的直接证据仍然难以找到。我们发现了一个矮卫星星系，它在与一个更大星系的暗物质晕合并时，正被引力潮汐力撕裂。我们的结果说明了潮汐相互作用对矮星系的形态转变以及星系晕的持续形成。