Dynamics of Astrophysical Discs

Recent developments in both theory and observations of astrophysical discs.

J. A. Sellwood (Edited by)

9780521548144, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 22 January 2004

276 pages
24.6 x 18.9 x 1.7 cm, 0.512 kg

Discs occur in a wide variety of astronomical contexts, ranging in size from planetary ring systems to galaxies. Because the dynamical problems posed by each type of disc are remarkably similar, the Astronomy Department of the University of Manchester decided to bring together experts in each area for a conference in December 1988. This book is a collection of the papers presented at the conference. It contains mainly review papers covering recent developments in both theory and observations of planetary ring systems, discs in star-forming regions, protoplanetary discs, accretion discs and galaxy discs presented by an expert in each field. The book also gives brief summaries of contributed papers outlining current research by many of the participants.

Preface
Names and addresses of participants
Conference photograph
1. Spiral waves in Saturn's rings
2. Structure of the Uranian rings
3. Planetary rings: theory
4. Simulations of light scattering in planetary rings
5. Accretion discs around young stellar objects and the proto-Sun
6. The ß Pictoris disc: a planetary rather than a protoplanetary one
7. Optical polarimetry and thermal imaging of the disc axound ß Pictoris
8. Observations of discs around protostars and young stars
9. VLA observations of ammonia towaxd moleculax outflow sources
10. Derivation of the physical properties of molecular discs by an MEM method
11. Masers associated with discs around young stars
12. The nature of polarisation discs axound young stars
13. The correlation between the main parameters of the interstellar gas (including Salpeter's spectrum of masses) as a result of the development of turbulent Rossby waves
14. Discs in cataclysmic variables and X-ray binaries
15. A disc instability model for soft X-ray transients containing black holes
16. X-ray variability from the accretion disc of NGC 5548
17. Viscously heated coronae and winds around accretion discs
18. Optical emission line profiles of symbiotic stars
19. The effect of formation of Fell in winds confined to discs for luminous stars
20. Observational evidence for accretion discs in active galactic nuclei
21. The fuelling of active galactic nuclei by non-axisynlinetric instabilities
22. The circum-nuclear disc in the Galactic centre
23. Non-axisymmetric instabilities in thin self-gravitating differentially rotating gaseous discs
24. Non-linear evolution of non-axisymmetric perturbations in thin self-gravitating gaseous discs
25. Eccentric gravitational instabilities in nearly Keplerian discs
26. Gravity mode instabilities in accretion tori
27. The stability of viscous supersonic shear flows - critical Reynolds numbers and their implications for accretion discs
28. Asymptotic analysis of overstable convective modes of uniformly rotating stars
29. Polytropic models in very rapid rotation
30. Distribution and kinematics of gas in galaxy discs
31. Are the smallest galaxies optically invisible?
32. Can we understand the constancy of rotation curves?
33. How well do we know the surface density of the Galactic disc?
34. On the heating of the Galactic disc
35. The bulge-disc interaction in galactic centres
36. Dynamics of the large-scale disc in NGC 1068
37. The flow of gas in barred galaxies
38. The warped dust lane in A1029-459
39. Structure and evolution of dissipative non-planar galactic discs
40. Non-axisymmetric magnetic fields in turbulent gas discs
41. Non-axisymmetric disturbances in galactic discs
42. Spiral instabilities in N-body simulations
43. Long-lived spiral waves in N-body simulations
44. Overstable modes in stellar disc systems
45. Galactic seismological approach to the spiral galaxy NGC 3198
46. Characteristics of bars from 3-1) simulations
47. Spirals and bars in linear theory
48. Stellar hydrodynamical solutions for Eddington discs
49. Theory of gradient instabilities of the gaseous Galactic disc and rotating shallow water
50. Stability criteria for gravitating discs
51. Stability of two-component galactic discs
52. The smoothed particle hydrodynamics of galactic discs
53. Tidal triggering of active disc galaxies by rich clusters
54. The formation of spiral arms in early stages of galaxy interaction
55. Formation of leading spiral arms in retrograde galaxy encounters
56. The influence of galaxy interactions on stellar bars
57. Disc galaxies - work in progress in Gothenburg
58. Motion of a satellite in a disc potential
59. Observer's summary
60. Common processes and problems in disc dynamics
Citation index
Index of authors
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Solar system: the Sun & planets [PGS], Galaxies & stars [PGM]