On the Interpretation of the l-v Features in the Milky Way Galaxy

TL;DR

This paper uses advanced 3D simulations to model the gas dynamics of the Milky Way, successfully reproducing observed large-scale and clumpy features in the galaxy's $l-v$ diagrams, providing insights into the galaxy's structure and gas behavior.

Contribution

The study introduces a comprehensive 3D simulation approach that incorporates multi-phase interstellar medium, self-gravity, star formation, and supernova feedback to reproduce detailed features in the Milky Way's $l-v$ diagrams.

Findings

Reproduces large-scale features like the 3-kpc arm and Connecting arm.

Successfully models clumpy structures such as Bania clumps.

Provides insights into the structure and evolution of gas in the Milky Way.

Abstract

We model the gas dynamics of barred galaxies using a three-dimensional, high-resolution, $N$-body+hydrodynamical simulation and apply it to the Milky Way in an attempt to reproduce both the large-scale structure and the clumpy morphology observed in Galactic H\emissiontype{I} and CO $l-v$ diagrams. Owing to including the multi-phase interstellar medium, self-gravity, star-formation and supernovae feedback, the clumpy morphology, as well as the large-scale features, in observed $l-v$ diagrams are naturally reproduced. We identify in our $l-v$ diagrams with a number of not only large-scale peculiar features such as the '3-kpc arm', '135-km s$^{-1}$ arm' and 'Connecting arm' but also clumpy features such as `Bania clumps', and then link these features in a face-on view of our model. We give suggestions on the real structure of the Milky Way and on the fate of gas clumps in the central region.