The nearby spiral density-wave structure of the Galaxy: line-of-sight velocities of the Gaia DR2 OB stars

Abstract

ABSTRACT Distances and line-of-sight velocities of 964 Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2) OB stars of Xu et al. within 3 kpc from the Sun and 500 pc from the Galactic mid-plane with accuracies of <50 per cent are selected. The data are used to find small systematic departures of velocities from the mean circular motion for the stars in the solar neighborhood due to the spiral compression-type (Lin–Shu-type) waves, or spiral density waves, e.g. those produced by real instabilities of spontaneous gravity disturbances, a central bar or a companion system. A key point of the study is that our results are consistent with the ones extracted from the asymptotic density-wave theory. Revised parameters of density waves in the solar vicinity of the Galaxy are also provided.