Abstract
A simple, semi-analytic method is developed for obtaining the orbits of galaxies undergoing fast collisions in which the galaxies are represented by Plummer models. The results are found to agree fairly well with those of N-body simulations.
A simple formula for obtaining the angle of deflection is deduced. The maximum angle of deflection is 180° forV p/V esc(p)=1.00, about 36° forV p/V esc(p)=1.50, and about 18° forV p/V esc(p)=2.00, whereV p is the velocity at closest approachp, andV esc(p) is the parabolic velocity of escape atp. The angle of deflection of a pair of colliding elliptical galaxies without halos is about twice that for a pair of galaxies with halos for the same relative velocity at infinite separation.
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Narasimha Rao, M., Alladin, S.M. & Narasimhan, K.S.V.S. Orbits of colliding galaxies. Celestial Mech Dyn Astr 58, 65–80 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00692118
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00692118