Exploring the nature of orbits in a galactic model with a massive nucleus

TL;DR

This study investigates how the presence of a massive nucleus in a galaxy influences stellar orbit regularity and chaos, revealing that increased nuclear mass correlates with more chaotic stellar motion, especially for low angular momentum stars.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of orbit transition from regular to chaotic in a galactic model with a massive nucleus, including the effects of galaxy evolution over time.

Findings

Chaos increases with nuclear mass

Low angular momentum stars are more chaotic

Critical angular momentum linearly relates to nuclear mass

Abstract

In the present article, we use an axially symmetric galactic gravitational model with a disk-halo and a spherical nucleus, in order to investigate the transition from regular to chaotic motion for stars moving in the meridian (r,z) plane. We study in detail the transition from regular to chaotic motion, in two different cases: the time independent model and the time evolving model. In the time dependent model, we follow the evolution of orbits as the galaxy develops a dense and massive nucleus in its core, as mass is transported exponentially from the disk to the galactic center. In addition, we construct some numerical diagrams in which we present the correlations between the main parameters of our galactic model. Our numerical calculations indicate, that stars with values of angular momentum Lz less than or equal to a critical value Lzc, moving near to the galactic plane, are scattered to the halo upon encountering the nuclear region and subsequently display chaotic motion. A linear relationship exists between the critical value of the angular momentum Lzc and the mass of the nucleus Mn. Furthermore, the extent of the chaotic region increases as the value of the mass of the nucleus increases. Moreover, our simulations indicate that the degree of chaos increases linearly, as the mass of the nucleus increases. These results strongly indicate that the ordered or chaotic nature of orbits, depends on the presence of massive objects in the galactic cores of the galaxies. Our results suggest, that for disk galaxies with massive and prominent nuclei, the low angular momentum stars in the associated central regions of the galaxy, must be in predominantly chaotic orbits. Some theoretical arguments to support the numerically derived outcomes are presented. Comparison with similar previous works is also made.