Warping the young stellar disc in the Galactic Centre

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the gravitational influence of the circum-nuclear disc affects the orbital precession of young stars in the Galactic Centre, proposing a scenario where their current distribution results from partial destruction of an original thin stellar disc.

Contribution

It demonstrates the significant role of the circum-nuclear disc's gravity in shaping the orbits of young stars and suggests a new origin scenario involving disc destruction.

Findings

CND causes orbit precession sensitive to semi-major axis and inclination

Young stars may have originated from a thin disc disrupted by CND

Disruption occurred over approximately 6 million years

Abstract

We examine influence of the circum-nuclear disc (CND) upon the orbital evolution of young stars in the Galactic Centre. We show that gravity of the CND causes precession of the orbits which is highly sensitive upon the semi-major axis and inclination. We consider such a differential precession within the context of an ongoing discussion about the origin of the young stars and suggest a possibility that all of them have originated in a thin disc which was partially destroyed due to the influence of the CND during the period of ~6Myr.