Simulations of sinking satellites

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (151) References (6) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Simulations of sinking satellites White, S. D. M. Abstract The orbital decay of satellite galaxies can be investigated using simulation methods which follow the dynamical process in a variety of different approximations. A comparison of the results shows that the decay rate depends on the global response of the parent galaxy. It is artificially enhanced by fixing the center of the parent, and it is suppressed by neglecting the self-gravity of the response. Chandrasekhar's local dynamical friction formula cannot, therefore, be a complete description of the underlying physics, although it predicts decay rates which are approximately correct. A simulation method which calculates the galactic gravitational field to second order in a multipole expansion gives results in agreement with full N-body experiments, but it runs several hundred times faster for N = 5000; It is only a factor of 2 or 3 slower than methods based on a generalization of the restricted three-body problem. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: November 1983 DOI: 10.1086/161425 Bibcode: 1983ApJ...274...53W Keywords: Computerized Simulation; Galactic Clusters; Many Body Problem; Natural Satellites; Orbit Decay; Decay Rates; Equations Of Motion; Gravitational Fields; Orbital Mechanics; Satellite Orbits; Astronomy full text sources ADS |