"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: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=594575
• 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.

虽然宇宙看起来是一个广阔而人烟稀少的地方，但它的动态性质意味着星系会定期碰撞。这些“星系合并”中的恒星很少会迎面相遇，但引力的影响会对整个星系产生壮观的后果。计算机模拟显示，合并导致两股物质流被扯走，大量的星系气体由于强大的扭矩力而被引向星系中心。这些模拟导致了对大规模核恒星爆发和中央黑洞点火的预测。因此，星系合并可能是星系演化的主要驱动力（或其中之一）。