A variety of observational and theoretical results are building a new picture of bulge formation. The evidence is that some "bulges" of disk galaxies formed very differently from the dissipative mergers that are believed to have formed elliptical galaxies and classical bulges. These "fake bulges" or "pseudobulges" appear to have formed secularly via the slow inward transport of disk gas by bars, oval distortions, and spiral structure. The gas builds up the central density from values characteristic of disks to values characteristic of bulges. Star formation then builds a high-density central component of the galaxies that now looks similar to a bulge but that has disky dynamics. Fortunately, pseudobulges retain enough memory of their disky origin that they can be identified, at least in the more extreme cases. This talk will review the evidence that secular evolution is an important process reshaping many disk galaxies.
Friday, 23 May 2003
11:00am
Array Operations Center Auditorium
Local Host: Joan Wrobel