Galaxy Collisions, Gas Stripping and Star Formation in the Evolution of Galaxies

Abstract

A review of gravitational and hydrodynamical processes during formation of clusters and evolution of galaxies is given. Early, at the advent of N-body computer simulations, the importance of tidal fields in galaxy encounters has been recognized. Orbits are crowded due to tides along spiral arms, where the star formation is enhanced. Low relative velocity encounters lead to galaxy mergers. The central dominating galaxies in future clusters form before the clusters in a merging process in galaxy groups. Galaxy clusters are composed in a hierarchical scenario due to relaxation processes between galaxies and galaxy groups. As soon as the overall cluster gravitational potential is built, high speed galaxy versus galaxy encounters start to play a role. These harassment events gradually thicken and shorten spiral galaxy disks leading to the formation of S0 galaxies and ellipticals. Another aspect of the high speed motion in the hot and diluted Intracluster Medium (ICM) is the ram pressure exerted on the Interstellar Matter (ISM) leading to stripping of the ISM from parent spirals. The combinations of tides and ram pressure stripping efficiently removes the gas from spirals, quenching the star formation in galactic disks, while triggering it in the tidal arms and at the leading edge of gaseous disk. Gas stripping from disks transports the metals to the ICM. In some cases, the gas extracted from the galactic disks becomes self-gravitating forming tidal dwarf galaxies.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures; to appear in Reviews in Modern Astronomy, Vol. 1