Residuals of an Equilibrium Model for the Galaxy Reveal a State of Disequilibrium in the Solar Neighborhood

TL;DR

This study models the gravitational potential and phase space distribution of stars near the Sun using Gaia DR2 data, revealing disequilibrium features such as phase spirals and velocity arches that challenge the assumption of equilibrium.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive equilibrium model of the Galaxy's potential and stellar distribution, and identifies residual disequilibrium features in Gaia data.

Findings

Detection of Gaia phase spirals and velocity arches.

Identification of residual disequilibrium features in star counts.

Insights into the non-equilibrium dynamics of the Solar Neighborhood.

Abstract

We simultaneously model the gravitational potential and phase space distribution function (DF) of giant stars near the Sun using the {\it Gaia} DR2 radial velocity catalog. We assume that the Galaxy is in equilibrium and is symmetric about both the spin axis of the disk and the Galactic midplane. The potential is taken as a sum of terms that nominally represent contributions from the gas disk, stellar disk, bulge, and dark matter halo. Our DF model for the giants comprise two components to account for a mix of thin and thick disk stars. The DF for each component is described by an analytic function of the energy, the spin angular momentum, and the vertical energy, in accord with Jeans theorem. We present model predictions for the radial and vertical forces within $\sim 2\,{\rm kpc}$ of the Sun, highlighting the rotation curve and vertical force profile in the Solar Neighbourhood. Finally, we show residuals for star counts in the $R-z$ and $z-v_z$ planes as well as maps of the mean radial and azimuthal velocities in the $z-v_z$ plane. Using our model for the potential, we also examine the star count residuals in action-frequency-angle coordinates. The {\it Gaia} phase spirals, velocity arches, some of the known moving groups and bending modes appear as well-defined features in these maps.