Evolution of superthin galaxies under Milgromian dynamics

Abstract

This work investigates the long-term evolution of the vertical structure of superthin galaxies within the framework of Milgromian dynamics (MOND). By constructing an observationally constrained model of UGC 7321, a typical superthin galaxy, we test whether its disc can maintain an extremely flattened structure in a MOND gravitational field. We also construct models with different values of the MOND depth index D_M to study how the global MOND depth affects disc evolution. We perform three-dimensional hydrodynamical N-body simulations using the publicly available code Phantom of RAMSES. In the observationally constrained model of UGC 7321, the galaxy develops a strong bar and undergoes a buckling instability during the early stages of the simulation. The bar strength then decreases gradually, and the system eventually exhibits a weak bar structure. The vertical evolution reflects the combined effects of heating induced by non-axisymmetric structures and vertical confinement in the Milgromian potential. The stellar disc undergoes only limited vertical thickening, and the disc remains largely within the superthin regime, h_z/R_D<0.1, after 5.0 Gyr. The comparison of models with different D_M values suggests that models with lower D_M values, associated in our model suite with higher baryonic masses or more compact discs, exhibit stronger vertical heating and more significant disc thickening. By contrast, models with higher D_M values, corresponding to lower masses or more diffuse structures, tend to maintain a superthin structure. Overall, the simulation results indicate that superthin discs can remain vertically thin during long-term isolated evolution in MOND, and that the long-term maintenance of superthin structures is influenced, at least partly, by the degree to which a galaxy lies in the low-acceleration regime.