2008/06/30 by D. Tsiklauri
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Cosmology #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Galaxy rotation curve #Magnetic field #Magnetohydrodynamics #Plasma #astro-ph #astro-ph.CO #astro-ph.GA #physics.plasm-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s10509-011-0703-0
published as Astrophys.Space Sci.334:165-170,2011 · Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Science (final printed version, typos in proofs corrected)
openalex publication_date 2011/04/08 · arxiv created 2011/04/13 · arxiv updated 2011/06/21 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Using the Galaxy as an example, we study the effect of j x B force on the rotational curves of gas and plasma in galaxies. Acceptable model for the galactic magnetic field and plausible physical parameters are used to fit the flat rotational curve for gas and plasma based on the observed baryonic (visible) matter distribution and j x B force term in the static MHD equation of motion. We also study the effects of varied strength of the magnetic field, its pitch angle and length scale on the rotational curves. We show that j x B force does not play an important role on the plasma dynamics in the intermediate range of distances 6-12 kpc from the centre, whilst the effect is sizable for larger r (r > 15 kpc), where it is the most crucial.