Holes, Rings and Spiral Structure in the Milky Way

该项目将使用星系演化的最新流体动力学模拟和多波长辐射传输模拟相结合，将螺旋星系盘中的旋臂、环和孔等可观察特征与驱动其形成和演化的物理过程联系起来。主要目标是：（1）通过比较红外连续谱、中性氢和一氧化碳排放的模型预测与现有数据，确定造成螺旋结构的物理过程;（2）探索多臂和少臂螺旋的起源;（3）确定银河系中的螺旋斑图速度和恒星速度分布。（1）确定星系盘的大小并限制旋臂在恒星动态加热和径向迁移中的作用;（2）评估卫星星系和暗物质团撞击的影响。该项目支助的主要研究员和研究生将制作一个模拟星系图像图集，以便与多波长数据进行比较。他们还将建立一个教育网站，其中包括他们的模拟地图集和真实的图像的互动介绍;并为天文馆和博物馆提供图像和视频，以补充网络介绍。

This project will connect observable features such as spiral arms, rings, and holes in the disks of spiral galaxies to the physical processes that drive their formation and evolution, using a combination of state of art hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy evolution and multi-wavelength radiative transfer simulations. The primary goals are: (1) to identify the physical processes responsible for spiral structure, by comparing model predictions of infrared continuum, neutral hydrogen, and carbon monoxide emission with available data; (2) to explore the origins of multi-armed and few-armed spirals; (3) to determine the spiral pattern speeds and stellar velocity distributions in Milky-Way-sized disks and constrain the role of spiral arms in the dynamical heating and radial migration of stars; and (4) to assess the effects of impacts by satellite galaxies and dark matter clumps. The Principal Investigator and the graduate student supported by the project will produce an atlas of simulated galaxy images for comparison with multi-wavelength data. They will also create an educational website containing an interactive presentation of their simulation atlas and real images; and supplement the web presentation with images and videos for planetaria and museums.