Title: The equilibrium and stability of the gaseous component of the galaxy, 1
Abstract: The distribution of gas satisfying hydrostatic and Poisson conditions with distance above the galactic plane is derived and compared with Schmidt's observations of the gas density, rho sub g (z). Equipartition magnetic and cosmic ray (Pc-r) components are assumed. The gas density is calculated for two limiting cases: (1) the total mass density at the galactic plane is equal to the sum of the observed gas and star densities in the solar neighborhood, and (2) Oort's data on the z component of the galactic gravitational acceleration are used. The rms z turbulent gas velocity dispersion is found. An expression is derived for the half-thickness of the equilibrium disk of galactic gas. Using the Innanen galactic mass model, the half-thickness is computed as a function of distance from the galactic center over the range 4kpc or = R or = 14kpc and compared to the observations of McGee and Milton. The observed increase in half-thickness at distances beyond the solar distance is reproduced theoretically. A galactic mass model is derived, using the observed layer half-width and constant value for Q.
Publication Year: 1971
Publication Date: 1971-11-01
Language: en
Type: article
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