A new kinematic model of the Galaxy: analysis of the stellar velocity field from Gaia Data Release 3

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new kinematic model of the Galaxy applied to Gaia DR3 data, analyzing stellar velocities and their derivatives to map Galactic dynamics and substructures.

Contribution

The study develops a second-order Taylor decomposition of the stellar velocity field using Gaia DR3 data, revealing complex Galactic substructures and non-axisymmetric features.

Findings

Confirmed previous Oort constants and kinematic parameters.

Mapped vertical velocity gradients across the Galaxy.

Identified asymmetries between Northern and Southern stellar velocity fields.

Abstract

This work presents the results of a kinematic analysis of the Galaxy that uses a new model as applied to the newest available Gaia data. We carry out the Taylor decomposition of the velocity field up to second order for 18 million high luminosity stars (i.e. OBAF-type stars, giants and subgiants) from the Gaia DR3 data. We determine the components of mean stellar velocities and their first and second partial derivatives (relative to cylindrical coordinates) for more than 28 thousand points in the plane of our Galaxy. We estimate Oort's constants $A$, $B$, $C$, and $K$ and other kinematics parameters and map them as a function of Galactocentric coordinates. The values found confirm the results of our previous works and are in excellent agreement with those obtained by other authors in the Solar neighbourhood. In addition, the introduction of second order partial derivatives of the stellar velocity field allows us to determine the values of the vertical gradient of the Galaxy azimuthal, radial and vertical velocities. Also, we determine the mean of the Galaxy rotation curve for Galactocentric distances from 4 kpc to 18 kpc by averaging Galactic azimuths in the range -30$^\circ$ < $\theta$ < +30$^\circ$ about the direction Galactic Centre-Sun-Galactic anticentre. Maps of the velocity components and of their partial derivatives with respect to coordinates within 10 kpc of the Sun reveal complex substructures, which provide clear evidence of non-axisymmetric features of the Galaxy. Finally, we show evidence of differences in the Northern and Southern hemispheres stellar velocity fields.