"Galaxy mergers: gas flows, starbursts and active galactic nuclei."

“星系合并：气体流动、星暴和活跃的星系核。”

• 批准号: 261489-2012
• 负责人: Ellison, Sara
• 金额: $ 3.72万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=525245
• 关键词: Galaxy; mergers; gas; flows; starbursts

Although the universe may seem a vast and sparsely populated place, its dynamic nature means that galaxies regularly collide. The stars in these "galaxy mergers" rarely meet each other head-on, but the effects of gravity can have spectacular consequences for the galaxy as a whole. Computer simulations show that mergers result in both streams of material being ripped away, and large quantities of the galaxies' gas being funneled towards the galactic centre as a result of strong torque forces. These simulations have led to predictions of massive nuclear starbursts and the ignition of the central black hole. Galaxy mergers may therefore be the (or one of the) main drivers of galaxy evolution.

尽管宇宙似乎是一个广阔且人口稀少的地方，但它的动态性质意味着星系经常碰撞。 这些“星系合并”中的恒星很少彼此直面相遇，但是重力的影响可能会对整个银河系产生壮观的后果。 计算机模拟表明，合并导致两种材料流都被撕开，并且由于强扭矩力而导致大量星系的气体向银河中心汇合。这些模拟导致预测了大规模的核星爆和中央黑洞的点火。 因此，星系合并可能是星系进化的主要驱动因素（或之一）。