The Spectra of Small Oscillations of Thin Disk Galactic Models

Abstract

This paper gives a survey of the spectral properties of the frequencies of small oscillations, both in and perpendicular to their plane, of cold thin disk galactic models. The spectra can have discrete and continuous parts, with two quite distinct types of continua arising. One type occurs with both kinds of oscillation when the density at the outer edge of the disk becomes sufficiently rarified. It is associated with rapid fluctuations in the outer region. The other type of continuum occurs for non‐axisymmetric oscillations in the plane of non‐uniformly rotating disks. Some significant discrete oscillations of fundamental type are found that exist in addition to the various continua.