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Home / GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, Volume 12, Number 4

Une asymétrie dans les tourbillons cosmiques

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Author: Revaz, Yves

Source: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, Volume 12, Number 4, 2003, pp. 282-286(5)

Publisher: oekom verlag

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.12.4.14

Amongst all objects in the universe, spiral galaxies resemble what could be called cosmic storms. Despite their apparently regular shapes, these huge rotating structures are sometimes subject to strange asymmetries. Fifty years ago, observers found that the outer parts of our galactic disk were not flat, but exhibited an asymmetric warp. Today, about half of the known galaxies are considered as warped, but no theory has been able to explain this phenomenon. Taking a look at this, we first introduce some general concepts about spiral and warped galaxies. Then, we explore the problem of the longevity of warped galaxies when the matter is distributed in a disk. We use a semi-analytic method to study the existence of stable periodic orbits in a warped analytic model. A N-body simulation provides information on the dynamical evolution of a warped galaxy.

Keywords: DARK MATTER; KINEMATICS AND DYNAMICS OF GALAXIES; N-BODY SIMULATIONS; PERIODIC ORBITS; WARPED GALAXIES

Document Type: Regular Paper

Publication date: 01 November 2003

More about this publication?

  • GAIA is a peer-reviewed inter- and transdisciplinary journal for scientists and other interested parties concerned with the causes and analyses of environmental and sustainability problems and their solutions.

    Environmental problems cannot be solved by one academic discipline. The complex natures of these problems require cooperation across disciplinary boundaries. Since 1991, GAIA has offered a well-balanced and practice-oriented forum for transdisciplinary research. GAIA offers first-hand information on state of the art environmental research and on current solutions to environmental problems. Well-known editors, advisors, and authors work to ensure the high quality of the contributions found in GAIA and a unique transdisciplinary dialogue – in a comprehensible style.

    GAIA is an ISI-journal, listed in the Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Science Citation Index and in Current Contents/Social and Behavioral Sciences.

    All contributions undergo a double-blind peer review.

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