Resonant capture, counter-rotating discs, and polar rings

Citation
S. Tremaine et Qj. Yu, Resonant capture, counter-rotating discs, and polar rings, M NOT R AST, 319(1), 2000, pp. 1-7
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
ISSN journal
00358711 → ACNP
Volume
319
Issue
1
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1 - 7
Database
ISI
SICI code
0035-8711(20001121)319:1<1:RCCDAP>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
We suggest that polar rings and/or counter-rotating discs in flattened gala xies can be formed from stars captured at the Binney resonance, where the r ate of precession of the angular momentum vector of a disc star equals the pattern speed of a triaxial halo. If the halo pattern speed is initially re trograde and slowly decays to zero, stars can be trapped as the Binney reso nance sweeps past them, and levitated into polar orbits. If the halo patter n speed is initially retrograde and slowly changes to prograde, trapped sta rs can evolve from prograde to retrograde disc orbits.