Swinging Spiral Arms

Abstract

We study transient spiral structures in an isothermal, thin, galactic disc. We find no instability that can grow everywhere from infinitesimal disturbances, but spiral structure does grow in the disc due to an arbitrarily strong, asymmetric, central source. An initially finite spiral undergoes transient swing amplification as it is gradually wound-up by differential rotation. An independent sequence in negative time describes a leading spiral swinging to a trailing spiral. The dynamical coupling is established between the swinging potential and the arm particles, by ensuring that this potential constrains a locally rotating distribution function centred on the arms. This swing amplification propagates in radius at the constant rotational speed of the disc, and leaves behind an exponential density decline in space and time.