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The truncation of stellar discs

Authors :
J. Jiménez-Vicente
Estrella Florido
E. Battaner
Astronomy
Source :
Astronomy & astrophysics, 388(1), 213-218. EDP Sciences
Publication Year :
2002

Abstract

We propose a hypothesis of the truncation of stellar discs based on the magnetic model of the rotation curve of spiral galaxies. Once the disc had formed and acquired its present structure, approximately, three balanced forces were acting on the initial gas: gravity and magnetic forces, inwards, and centrifugal force. When stars are formed from this gas, the magnetic force is suddenly suppressed. Gravitation alone cannot retain the newly-formed stars and at birth places beyond a certain galactocentric radius they escape to intergalactic space. This radius is the so-called ``truncation radius'', which is predicted to be at about 4-5 disc radial scale lengths, in promising agreement with observations.<br />6 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics Replaced using new A&A style

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00046361
Volume :
388
Issue :
1
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Astronomy & astrophysics
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....1283d7fa61a685d0eb05352066e4caaa