The Stellar Population of the Thin Disk

2009/08/01 by Carlos Allende Prieto · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Context (archaeology) #Galaxy #Galaxy formation and evolution #Geology #Halo #Interacting galaxy #Milky Way #Paleontology #Physics #Stars #Stellar kinematics #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #Thick disk #Thin disk #astro-ph.GA #astro-ph.SR

paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s1743921310000785

published in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union 5(S265), 304-312 (Cambridge University Press) · 9 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the IAU Symp. 265 Chemical Abundances in the Universe: Connecting First Stars to Planet, K. Cunha, M. Spite and B. Barbuy, eds

openalex publication_date 2009/08/01 · arxiv created 2009/11/18 · arxiv updated 2015/05/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Abstract We discuss recent observations of stars located close to the symmetry plane of the Milky Way, and examine them in the context of theories of Galaxy formation and evolution. The kinematics, ages, and compositions of thin disk stars in the solar neighborhood display complex patterns, and interesting correlations. The Galactic disk does not seem to pose any unsurmountable obstacles to hierarchical galaxy formation theories, but a model of the Milky Way able to reproduce the complexity found in the data will likely require a meticulous study of a significant fraction of the stars in the Galaxy. Making such an observational effort seems necessary in order to make a physics laboratory out of our own galaxy, and ultimately ensure that the most relevant processes are properly understood.

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