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An ever-present Gaia snail shell triggered by a dark matter wake

Grand, Robert J J; Pakmor, Rüdiger; Fragkoudi, Francesca; Gómez, Facundo A; Trick, Wilma; Simpson, Christine M; van de Voort, Freeke; Bieri, Rebekka (2023). An ever-present Gaia snail shell triggered by a dark matter wake. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 524(1):801-816.

Abstract

We utilize a novel numerical technique to model star formation in cosmological simulations of galaxy formation – called superstars – to simulate a Milky Way-like galaxy with ≳108 star particles to study the formation and evolution of out-of-equilibrium stellar disc structures in a full cosmological setting. In the plane defined by the coordinate and velocity perpendicular to the mid-plane [vertical phase space, (Z, VZ)], stars in solar-like volumes at late times exhibit clear spirals qualitatively similar in shape and amplitude to the Gaia ‘snail shell’ phase spiral. We show that the phase spiral forms at a lookback time of ∼6 Gyr during the pericentric passage of an ∼1010$\rm {\rm M}_{\odot }$ satellite on a polar orbit. This satellite stimulates the formation of a resonant wake in the dark matter halo while losing mass at a rate of ∼0.5–1 dex per orbit loop. The peak magnitude of the wake-induced gravitational torque at the solar radius is ∼8 times that from the satellite, and triggers the formation of a disc warp that wraps up into a vertical phase spiral over time. As the wake decays, the phase spiral propagates several gigayears to present day and can be described as ‘ever-present’ once stable disc evolution is established. These results suggest an alternative scenario to explain the Gaia phase spiral, which does not rely on a perturbation from bar buckling or a recent direct hit from a satellite.

Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:07 Faculty of Science > Institute for Computational Science
Dewey Decimal Classification:530 Physics
Scopus Subject Areas:Physical Sciences > Astronomy and Astrophysics
Physical Sciences > Space and Planetary Science
Uncontrolled Keywords:Space and Planetary Science, Astronomy and Astrophysics
Language:English
Date:4 July 2023
Deposited On:03 Feb 2024 09:53
Last Modified:31 Oct 2024 02:35
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0035-8711
OA Status:Hybrid
Free access at:Publisher DOI. An embargo period may apply.
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad1969
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  • Language: English
  • Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

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