Understanding spiral structure

该项目属于STFC路线图主题A5（恒星和星系如何演化？）的福尔斯。目的是通过研究轴对称盘模型如何对内部和外部扰动作出反应，并将结果与观测数据进行比较，特别是从盖亚DR 2和随后发布的数据，来了解盘星系螺旋结构的性质。它最常见的是使用N体模拟来解决，或者不太常见的是使用某种系统模式分析。而不是找到本征模，更简单，underexplored替代方法是考虑耦合的弗拉索夫和泊松方程的初始值问题，描述光盘的演变。我们将首先集中在理想化的2d光盘的演变，然后再探索包括光盘的垂直结构的途径。

This project falls within STFC roadmap topic A5 (How do stars and galaxies evolve?). The aim is to understand the nature of spiral structure in disc galaxies, by studying how models of axisymmetric discs response to internal and external perturbations and comparing the results against observational data, particularly from Gaia DR2 and subsequent releases.This is a lively current topic of research within the galaxy dynamics community. It is most commonly tackled using N-body simulations or, less frequently, by using some kind of analysis of the modes of the system. Instead of finding eigenmodes, simpler, underexplored alternative approach is to consider the initial value problem for the coupled Vlasov and Poisson equations that describe the evolution of the disc. We will first focus on the evolution of idealised 2d discs before exploring avenues for including the disc's vertical structure.