On the formation of tails and bridges in interacting galaxies

Abstract

Interacting galaxies produce peculiar feature like tails, bridges, and counterarms of various sizes and shapes. Numerical experiments have been performed to investigate as to how the formation of tails and bridges depends on mass ratio of the two interacting galaxies. Results indicate that tail formation is favoured when the mass ratio mu is close to unity. When mu << 1, tail appears to be shorter and thinner than in the case when mu is about unity. As a result of the encounter, a sharp decrease in the density of the main galaxy at the tidal radius is numerically observed.