Tidal stirring of Milky Way satellites: a simple picture with the integrated tidal force

TL;DR

This study uses N-body simulations to show that the evolution of dwarf galaxies around the Milky Way depends primarily on the total integrated tidal force, leading to similar final properties regardless of orbit specifics.

Contribution

It introduces a simple model linking the final state of dwarf galaxies to the integrated tidal force experienced during their orbit.

Findings

Dwarf galaxies lose mass and become spheroids under tidal forces.

Final properties depend mainly on total integrated tidal force.

Orbit eccentricity has less impact than total tidal force.

Abstract

Most of dwarf spheroidal galaxies in the Local Group were probably formed via environmental processes like the tidal interaction with the Milky Way. We study this process via N-body simulations of dwarf galaxies evolving on seven different orbits around the Galaxy. The dwarf galaxy is initially composed of a rotating stellar disk and a dark matter halo. Due to the action of tidal forces it loses mass and the disk gradually transforms into a spheroid while stellar motions become increasingly random. We measure the characteristic scale-length of the dwarf, its maximum circular velocity, mass, shape and kinematics as a function of the integrated tidal force along the orbit. The final properties of the evolved dwarfs are remarkably similar if the total tidal force they experienced was the same, independently of the actual size and eccentricity of the orbit.