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| Paper: |
Modeling the Tidal Tails of the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy |
| Volume: |
327, Satellites and Tidal Streams |
| Page: |
239 |
| Authors: |
Law, D.R.; Majewski, S.R.; Skrutskie, M.F.; Johnston, K.V. |
| Abstract: |
N-body simulations are used to model the tidal disruption of the Sagittarius (Sgr) dwarf galaxy with constraints set by the positions and velocities of M giants in the Sgr tidal arms recently revealed by the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS). The simulated Sgr dwarf is placed on a variety of orbits within a MilkyWay potential parameterized by variable circular velocities, halo flattenings, and radial profiles. Two hundred separate test particle orbits have been used to explore a wide range of model Milky Way potentials and dwarf galaxy characteristics. The family of models is delimited by the data to a relatively narrow allowed range of parameters, and then input into N-body simulations. We present our best-fitting model, and discuss the orbital period, apogalacticon distance, current space velocity, mass-to-light ratio, and other characteristics of the Sgr dwarf. In addition, we discuss the implications of this model for the flattening of the Galactic halo. |
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