Seminar by Lawrence Widrow, Queen's University
The stellar disc in the solar neighbourhood appears to be in a state of disequilibrium. The phase space distribution function, now mapped in unprecedented detail by Gaia, exhibits bending and breathing waves along with intriguing phase space spirals. As with galactic bars, spiral structure, and warps, these phenomena lack a complete and satisfactory explanation. I will describe some of the projects in my group on solar neighborhood dynamics including a study of the vertical potential (the Oort problem). I will then describe a shearing box calculation that explores the connection between swing amplification of spiral structure in the plane of the disk and the Gaia phase spirals.
Host: Kathryn Johnston