Analytical Expressions for Spiral Arm Gravitational Potential and Density
Abstract
When modeling the three-dimensional hydrodynamics of interstellar material rotating in a galactic gravitational potential, it is useful to have an analytic expression for gravitational perturbations due to stellar spiral arms. We present such an expression for which changes in the assumed characteristics of the arms can be made easily and the sensitivity of the hydrodynamics to those characteristics examined. This analytic expression also makes it easy to rotate the force field at the pattern angular velocity with little overhead on the calculations.
Turn this paper into a full lesson
ArcXiv compiles a staged curriculum from this paper: 8-12 lessons across beginner → advanced, synthesised section guides, visuals, flashcards, a quiz, exercises, and on-demand deep dives per section. Grounded in the abstract, never invented.