Secular Evolution of Disks

Abstract

It is found that a previously thought-to-be well established result of density wave theory, that there is no interaction between a quasi-stationary spiral density wave and the basic state (i.e. the axisymmetric part) of the galactic disk, is in fact false. When solved as a nonlinear and globally self-consistent problem, the presence of non-axisymmetric patterns such as spirals or bars is shown to lead to significant interaction of the basic state and the density wave, with the net result being the simultaneous acquirement of a quasi-steady wave amplitude and the secular redistribution of disk matter. The secular operation of this dynamical mechanism leads to the evolution of the Hubble type of a galaxy from late to early.