A new resonance-like feature in the outer disc of the Milky Way

TL;DR

This paper identifies a new resonance-like feature in the Milky Way's outer disc using Gaia DR3 data, indicating complex dynamical processes possibly linked to the Galactic bar.

Contribution

It presents the first evidence of a resonance feature in the outer Milky Way disc, utilizing Gaia DR3 data and star samples of different ages to analyze phase space structures.

Findings

Resonance-like feature detected in young Cepheids.

Similar but less prominent features found in older stars.

Potential connection to the Galactic bar suggested.

Abstract

Modern astrometric and spectroscopic surveys have revealed a wealth of structure in the phase space of stars in the Milky Way, with evidence of resonance features and non-equilibrium processes. Using Gaia's third data release, we present evidence of a new resonance-like feature in the outer disc of the Milky Way. The feature is most evident in the angular momentum distribution of the young Classical Cepheids, a population for which we can derive accurate distances over much of the Galactic disc. We then search for similar features in the outer disc using a much larger sample of red giant stars, as well as a compiled list of over 31 million stars with spectroscopic line-of-sight velocity measurements. While much less evident in these two older samples, the distribution of stars in action-configuration space suggests that resonance features are present here as well. The position of the feature in action-configuration space suggests that the new feature may be related to the Galactic bar, but other possibilities are discussed.