4 research outputs found
Asymmetric Drift and the Stellar Velocity Ellipsoid
We present the decomposition of the stellar velocity ellipsoid using stellar
velocity dispersions within a 40 deg wedge about the major-axis (sigma_maj),
the epicycle approximation, and the asymmetric drift equation. Thus, we employ
no fitted forms for sigma_maj and escape interpolation errors resulting from
comparisons of the major and minor axes. We apply the theoretical construction
of the method to integral field data taken for NGC 3949 and NGC 3982. We derive
the vertical-to-radial velocity dispersion ratio (sigma_z / sigma_R) and find
(1) our decomposition method is accurate and reasonable, (2) NGC 3982 appears
to be rather typical of an Sb type galaxy with sigma_z / sigma_R = 0.73
(+0.13/-0.11) despite its high surface brightness and small size, and (3) NGC
3949 has a hot disk with sigma_z / sigma_R = 1.18 (+0.36/-0.28).Comment: 4 pages including 3 figures, to appear in "Island Universes:
Structure and Evolution of Disk Galaxies", Terschelling, Netherlands, July
3-8, 200
Bimodal Brightness Oscillations in Models of Young Binary Systems
We consider a model for the cyclic activity of young binary stars that
accrete matter from the remnants of a protostellar cloud. If the orbit of such
a binary system is inclined at a small angle to the line of sight, then the
streams of matter and the density waves excited in the circumbinary disk can
screen the primary component of the binary from the observer. To study these
phenomena by the SPH (smoothed particle hydrodynamics) method, we have computed
grids of hydrodynamic models for binary systems based on which we have
constructed the light curves as a function of the orbital phase.The main
emphasis is on investigating the properties of the brightness oscillations.
Therefore, the model parameters were varied within the following ranges: the
component mass ratio q = M2 : M1 = 0.2 - 0.5 and the eccentricity e = 0 - 0.7.
The parameter that defined the binary viscosity was also varied. We adopted
optical grain characteristics typical of circumstellar dust. Our computations
have shown that bimodal oscillations are excited in binaries with eccentric
orbits, provided that the binary components do not differ too much in mass. In
this case, the ratios of the periods and amplitudes of the bimodal oscillations
and their shape depend strongly on the inclination of the binary plane and its
orientation relative to the observer. Our analysis shows that the computed
light curves can be used in interpreting the cyclic activity of UX Ori stars.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl