Mapping the Milky Way with Gaia Bp/Rp spectra-IV: the broken and asymmetric density profile of the stellar disk traced by a large sample of red clumps

TL;DR

This paper maps the complex radial and azimuthal density profile of the Milky Way's stellar disk using Gaia red clump stars, revealing multiple breaks, flaring, and localized features linked to Galactic dynamics.

Contribution

It provides a detailed, large-scale analysis of the Milky Way's stellar disk structure, highlighting radial and azimuthal variations and potential effects of the Galactic bar.

Findings

Radial density profile shows multiple breaks at different radii.

Inner flaring of the disk suggests influence of the Galactic bar.

Identified a localized density and metallicity bump possibly related to radial migration.

Abstract

This study explores the density profile of the stellar disk, radially and azimuthally, based on approximately 8.4 million red clump stars selected from Gaia Bp/Rp spectra. After correcting for selection effects and distance uncertainties, we fit the vertical stellar density profile of the Galactic disk with a two-component model consisting of geometrically thin and thick disks. Our derived density profile shows several breaks radially: (1) a steep exponential inside R$\sim3$ kpc; (2) a nearly flat plateau from R$\sim3$ to $\sim7$ kpc; (3) an exponential decline beyond the solar radius to around 13 kpc; (4) a sharper exponential drop-off beyond R$\sim$13 kpc. The parameters of these four main components depend on $\phi$ to some extent. Variation of the termination radius of the first component suggests an interaction with the bar/bulge. Besides the typical flaring at $R>6.4$ kpc, we find that the thin disk also exhibits a similar and smooth thickening/flaring feature toward the Galactic center at $R<6.4$ kpc. The observed inner flaring may indicate heating effects introduced by the Galactic bar, since $R=6.4$ kpc lies close to the co-rotation radius where the bar's dynamical influence becomes significant. Additionally, we identify a localized density bump in the region $5<R<7$ kpc and $-30^\circ<\phi<15^\circ$, where a corresponding metallicity bump is also visible near the Galactic plane. This density/metallicity bump may be related to the recently reported bimodal distribution of the guiding radius of super metal-rich stars in the solar vicinity through radial migration.