Abstract
We study, theoretically and withN-body simulations, the formation of spiral structures in retrograde galaxy encounters. A one-armed leading spiral dominates in a disc if (i) the tidal perturbation from the retrograde companion is large enough, and (ii) the disc is surrounded by a massive halo. From the literature we find that very few spirals in a sample of galaxies with a large companion have leading spiral arms. A possible reason for this is that very few spiral galaxies have a halo with a larger mass than the disc mass.
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Thomasson, M., Donner, K.J., Sundelius, B. et al. Formation of leading spiral arms in retrograde galaxy encounters. Astrophys Space Sci 156, 205–208 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00646367
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00646367