Talk:Density wave theory

New Explanation for Spiral Structure
In a recent paper published in Proceedings of The Royal Society A, Charles Francis and Erik Anderson presented a model of spiral arms, matching observations and showing how the mutual gravity between stars causes orbital rosettes to align so as to form logarithmic spirals. Density wave theory is shown to be based on elementary mathematical mistakes and incorrect physics, and makes observationally predictions about stellar motion (stars do move along the arms). Should this article be editted accordingly? RQG (talk) 07:23, 25 August 2009 (UTC)


 * No. If needed a criticism section can be added to the end, but rewriting it would be wrong, because this is an article on the 'density wave theory', not on your theory. 76.66.202.219 (talk) 11:08, 1 December 2009 (UTC)


 * That being said, I think the Francis & Anderson (2009) model would make an interesting addition to the Spiral arms content. Thank you.&mdash;RJH (talk) 17:13, 2 December 2009 (UTC)

Winding Problem

Just an innocent passerby, but I couldn't help but notice under "Galactic spiral arms":

"Originally, astronomers had the idea that the arms of a spiral galaxy were material. However, if this were the case, then the arms would become more and more tightly wound, since the matter nearer to the center of the galaxy rotates faster than the matter at the edge of the galaxy. The arms would become indistinguishable from the rest of the galaxy after only a few orbits. This is called the winding problem..."

This statement seems to indicate that a 'material' explanation for spiral arms was dismissed based on the common presumption that the law of Planetary Motion and the Keplerian rotational curve applied to spiral galaxies. However, those ideas were disproved by Vera Rubin, et al, in the 1970s.

The observed flat rotational curves of spiral galaxies could be mechanically explained if the centripetal forces applied to stars within the innermost circumference of the galactic disc generally applied to the entire spiral structure, as in a flexible body. Moreover, the centrifugal forces applied to the peripheral stars might also be generally applied to the entire spiral structure.

Just pointing out that reason given for dismissing an entire line of investigation, producing a 'winding problem' seems to have been without any merit...

--Jtdwyer (talk) 22:11, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

Source? The article doesn't seem to address--or if it does, it doesn't explain it well--what initially causes the "density waves." Why do they form at all? Why are they stationary? What phenomena go into their formation? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.131.177.17 (talk) 19:49, 9 March 2012 (UTC)

New application
We should probably mention also this: http://www.naoj.org/Pressrelease/2012/12/19/index.html. Miraceti (talk) 10:59, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

**** The best map yet of the spiral arms in the Milky Way galaxy has been drawn. To make this map, a catalog of tangents to each arm was created, with entries from each chemical tracer available.

In the Milky Way, one discovers a separation of each chemical tracer into its own lane inside a spiral arm, much like a multicolored ribbon. Red hot dust lanes face the center of the Galaxy, while other chemical lanes follow, ending with the cold CO lanes and stars.

This separation reveals the observed impact  of the presence of  hidden ‘density’ waves, sculpting the arms. Stars can be seen simply as 'riding the waves' - see  https://briankoberlein.com/2014/10/30/riding-wave/

A free copy can be seen at      http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1409/1409.4801.pdf while the professional article appeared here  Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, volume 215, article 1, pages 1-9  (2014 November issue).

****

"Originally, astronomers had the idea that the arms of a spiral galaxy were material."

I believe the phrasing around the word material lacks clarity since the arms are in fact composed of material, just different material at different times as their position progresses. A suggestion which adds this precision: "Originally, astronomers thought the same material was in a given part of a spiral galaxy's arm over time as it moved."

**** — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.81.178.30 (talk) 02:07, 11 April 2017 (UTC)

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