Bulge formation by the coalescence of giant clumps in primordial disk galaxies

TL;DR

This paper reviews how giant clumps in early galaxies form through gravitational instabilities, interact, and merge to create bulges, emphasizing the role of smooth gas accretion in galaxy evolution.

Contribution

It presents a model explaining bulge formation via coalescence of giant clumps in primordial disks, highlighting the importance of gravitational interactions and gas accretion.

Findings

Giant clumps form by gravitational instabilities in gas-rich disks.

Clumps gravitationally interact and merge to form galaxy bulges.

Smooth gas accretion is essential for the model's validity.

Abstract

The observations and evolution of clumpy, high-redshift galaxies are reviewed. Models suggest that the clumps form by gravitational instabilities in a gas-rich disk, interact with each other gravitationally, and then merge in the center where they form a bulge. The model requires smooth gas accretion during galaxy growth.