N-body simulation insights into the X-shaped bulge of the Milky Way: kinematics and distance to the Galactic Centre

作者：Gardner Esko^*; Debattista Victor P; Robin Annie C; Vasquez Sergio; Zoccali Manuela

来源：Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2014, 438(4): 3275-3290.

DOI：10.1093/mnras/stt2430

• Galaxy: bulge
• Galaxy: centre
• Galaxy: evolution
• Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics
• Galaxy: structure

Using simulations of box/peanut- (B/P-) shaped bulges, we explore the nature of the X-shape of the Milky Way%26apos;s bulge. An X-shape can be associated with a B/P-shaped bulge driven by a bar. By comparing in detail the simulations and the observations we show that the principal kinematic imprint of the X-shape is a minimum in the difference between the near and far side mean line-of-sight velocity along the minor axis. This minimum occurs at around vertical bar b vertical bar = 4 degrees, which is close to the lower limit at which the X-shape can be detected. No coherent signature of an X-shape can be found in Galactocentric azimuthal velocities, vertical velocities or any of the dispersions. After scaling our simulations, we find that a best fit to the Bulge Radial Velocity Assay data leads to a bar angle of 15 degrees. We also explore a purely geometric method for determining the distance to the Galactic Centre by tracing the arms of the X-shape. We find that we are able to determine this ill-known distance to an accuracy of about 5 per cent with sufficiently accurate distance measurements for the red clump stars in the arms.

• 出版日期2014-3