Kinematic analysis of the TNG50 Milky Way and Andromeda analogues

Abstract

We investigate whether Ogorodnikov-Milne (O-M) parameters can serve as kinematic tracers of spiral structure in four Milky Way- and Andromeda-like disc galaxies from the TNG50-1 simulation at z=0. Stellar particles are analysed in disc-aligned reference frames, with velocities referenced to the mass-weighted mean stellar velocity within one stellar half-mass radius. Local O-M fits on a regular grid yield centroid velocities and the components of the velocity-gradient tensor, characterising local deformation and rotation. We compare their spatial distributions with stellar surface-density and relative overdensity maps and examine the influence of parameter uncertainties. The galaxies exhibit diverse coherent kinematic patterns. Features selected using the generalised Oort constants A, B, and C+K display partial correspondence with stellar overdensities, depending on the galaxy and the adopted centroid-selection criteria. For TNG50-456326, a galaxy-specific selection enables us to fit four logarithmic spiral branches and determine their geometrical parameters. Their morphology suggests two principal arms and two secondary branches. We compare the fitted spirals with stellar- and gas-mass overdensity and radial velocity maps and examine the spatial relationship between the identified stellar structures and the gas distribution. Qualitative similarities to the morphology and kinematic patterns of the Milky Way make TNG50-456326 a promising candidate for further investigation as a kinematic analogue. Our results support the use of local O-M parameters as complementary diagnostics of non-axisymmetric disc structure, while highlighting the need for galaxy-specific selection criteria.