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Action-based dynamical models of M31-like galaxies

Gherghinescu, P, Das, P, Grand, RJJ and Orkney, MDA (2024) Action-based dynamical models of M31-like galaxies. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 533 (4). pp. 4393-4409. ISSN 0035-8711

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Abstract

In this work, we present an action-based dynamical equilibrium model to constrain the phase-space distribution of stars in the stellar halo, present-day dark matter distribution, and the total mass distribution in M31-like galaxies. The model comprises a three-component gravitational potential (stellar bulge, stellar disc, and a dark matter halo), and a double power-law distribution function (DF), f(J), which is a function of actions. A Bayesian model-fitting algorithm was implemented that enabled both parameters of the potential and DF to be explored. After testing the model-fitting algorithm on mock data drawn from the model itself, it was applied to a set of three M31-like haloes from the Auriga simulations (Auriga 21, Auriga 23, and Auriga 24). Furthermore, we tested the equilibrium assumption and the ability of a double power-law DF to represent the stellar halo stars. The model incurs an error in the total enclosed mass of around 10 per cent out to 100 kpc, thus justifying the equilibrium assumption. Furthermore, the double power-law DF used proves to be an appropriate description of the investigated M31-like haloes. The anisotropy profiles of the haloes were also investigated and discussed from a merger history point of view, however, our approach underscores to capture the non-equilibrium anisotropy information of stellar haloes in Auriga models, which is expected.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences; Astronomy & Astrophysics
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions: Astrophysics Research Institute
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
SWORD Depositor: A Symplectic
Date Deposited: 23 Sep 2024 14:44
Last Modified: 23 Sep 2024 14:45
DOI or ID number: 10.1093/mnras/stae1960
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/24234
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