Limitation of symmetry breaking

in spherical collapse experiments

Tirawut Worrakitpoonpon
Suranaree University of Technology

At Chulalongkorn University
2nd April 2021
 Outline
• Introduction
– Theory of the gravitational collapse and the formation of elliptical
galaxies
– Density fluctuation in N-body system
• Results & Conclusion
– N-dependence in the shape evolution by ROI
(Benhaiem, Joyce, Sylos Labini, Worrakitpoonpon 2018)
– Limitation of symmetry breaking in warm collapse
(Worrakitpoonpon 2020)
2
 Outline
• Introduction
– Theory of the gravitational collapse and the formation of elliptical
galaxies
– Density fluctuation in N-body system
• Results & Conclusion
– N-dependence in the shape evolution by ROI
(Benhaiem, Joyce, Sylos Labini, Worrakitpoonpon 2018)
– Limitation of symmetry breaking in warm collapse
(Worrakitpoonpon 2020)
3
 Introduction – Elliptical galaxy
Galaxy shapes and colors
can be classified by the
Hubble diagram (or
Hubble Tuning Fork).

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 Introduction – Elliptical galaxy
Elliptical galaxies are in non-
spherical stationary states
with universal surface
brightness, i.e. de
Vaucouleurs' profile.
(de Vaucouleurs 1948)

(de Vaucouleurs & Capaccioli 1979)

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 Introduction – Elliptical galaxy
Ellipsoidal shape generated in isolated system is possibly due to
1. Radially collapsing violent relaxation, or the monolithic
collapse hypothesis.
2. Unstable radially anisotropic stationary state, or the radial
orbit instability (ROI) hypothesis.

Local galaxies might already undergo multiple mergers.

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 Introduction – Elliptical galaxy
Structures resembling to elliptical galaxies in cold collapse
simulations

(Aguilar & Merritt 1990) Aarseth, Lin & Papaloizou 1988)

(van Albada 1982)
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 Introduction – Elliptical galaxy
Shape evolution in radially-dominated stationary states (or ROI)

(Merritt & Aguilar 1985)

8
 Introduction – Elliptical galaxy
Some studies suggest that the triaxiality decays with time.

(Theis & Spurzem 1999) 9

 Outline
• Introduction
– Theory of the gravitational collapse and the formation of elliptical
galaxies
– Density fluctuation in N-body system
• Results & Conclusion
– N-dependence in the shape evolution by ROI
(Benhaiem, Joyce, Sylos Labini, Worrakitpoonpon 2018)
– Limitation of symmetry breaking in warm collapse
(Worrakitpoonpon 2020)
10
Introduction – Finite-N fluctuation
In a system of randomly placed particles, locally
averaged number density varies or ‘fluctuates’.

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Introduction – Finite-N fluctuation
This fluctuation vanishes when N goes to
infinity, or ‘fluid limit’.

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Introduction – Finite-N fluctuation
Point systems possess the density fluctuation.
Amplitude of fluctuation can be scaled by the
enclosed particle number N as < δ𝜌 > ~𝑁 −1/2 .

𝜌 + 𝛿𝜌1 𝜌 + 𝛿𝜌2 𝜌 + 𝛿𝜌3

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Introduction – Finite-N fluctuation
Anisotropic collapse
during the violent
relaxation breaks the
spherical symmetry.

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 Introduction – Finite-N fluctuation
Past studies of finite-N effect in cold initial states

Mass ejection Shape evolution

(Joyce et al. (MNRAS) 2009) (Boily & Athanassoula (MNRAS) 2006)
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 Introduction – Finite-N fluctuation
Flattening of the core scaled by N-1/3.

Ellipticity

Particle number
(Worrakitpoonpon 2015) 16
 Outline
• Introduction
– Theory of the gravitational collapse and the formation of elliptical
galaxies
– Density fluctuation in N-body system
• Results & Conclusion
– N-dependence in the shape evolution by ROI
(Benhaiem, Joyce, Sylos Labini, Worrakitpoonpon 2018)
– Limitation of symmetry breaking in warm collapse
(Worrakitpoonpon 2020)
17
 N-dependence of the ROI
Initial conditions are spherical cloud of particles with power-law
density profile
1
𝜌 𝑟 ~ 𝛼
𝑟
and isotropic velocity distribution whose dispersion is
parametrized by the initial virial ratio
2𝑇0
𝑏0 ≡
−𝑈0
where 𝑇0 and 𝑈0 are the initial kinetic and potential energies,
respectively.
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 N-dependence of the ROI
In some cases, the collapse leads to radially dominated QSS,
leading to the ROI, which greatly enhances the system triaxiality.

Gravitational
instability
ROI

Violent relaxation

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N-dependence of the ROI

The onset of ROI does not

depend on N.

The onset of ROI is

delayed as N increases.

Increasing N suppresses
the ROI.
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 N-dependence of the ROI
Different microscopic
arrangements in low-N
simulations may lead to different
final states.

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 N-dependence of the ROI
With controlled density
fluctuation by arranging the
particle in lattice at initial
state, the onset of ROI is
delayed.

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 N-dependence of the ROI
Conclusion:
• N-dependent final states reflect the direct involvement of
microscopic density fluctuation: decreasing N attenuates the
strength of the seed of the triaxiality.

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 Outline
• Introduction
– Theory of the gravitational collapse and the formation of elliptical
galaxies
– Density fluctuation in N-body system
• Results & Conclusion
– N-dependence in the shape evolution by ROI
(Benhaiem, Joyce, Sylos Labini, Worrakitpoonpon 2018)
– Limitation of symmetry breaking in warm collapse
(Worrakitpoonpon 2020)
24
 Limitation of symmetry breaking
The development of triaxiality induced
from the inside is described by Lin,
Mestel and Shu, i.e. Lin-Mestel-Shu
instability (Lin, Mestel & Shu 1965).

In cold collapses, this instability is always

present.

Asymmetric collapse
 N-dependence of the ROI
Initial conditions are spherical cloud of particles with mildly
power-law density profile (i.e. 0 ≤ 𝛼 ≤ 0.5)
1
𝜌 𝑟 ~ 𝛼
𝑟
and isotropic velocity distribution corresponding to an initial virial
ratio
2𝑇0
𝑏0 ≡
−𝑈0
where 𝑇0 and 𝑈0 are the initial kinetic and potential energies,
respectively.
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 Limitation of symmetry breaking
Two effective radii of gravity fluctuation and pressure force are
estimated. Final shape depends on which radius dominates
the other. Gravity
fluctuation
Pressure
Gravity
fluctuation Pressure

Stable (Spherical final state) Unstable (Triaxial final state)

 Limitation of symmetry breaking
Two radii are scaled differently by
N. The critical number, Nc, is when
these two radii are equal, or
𝑟𝐽 ~𝑟.
The critical number is then
3−𝛼
−
Seed radius 𝑟 Jean-like radius 𝑟𝐽 𝑁𝑐 ~𝑏0 2−𝛼 .

Nc decreases when b0 increases.

 Limitation of symmetry breaking
Transition between ellipsoidal and
Ellipsoidal
spherical collapse as we increase b0 is
found in mild α cases. 𝛼=0

Spherical
The indicator is chosen to be the
ratio between the final and initial
Ellipsoidal
ellipticity, or 𝜄80 /𝜄80,0 .
𝛼 = 0.25

Spherical
 Limitation of symmetry breaking
The transition shown in (b0,N) diagram

𝛼=0 𝛼 = 0.25
Spherical

Spherical

Ellipsoidal
Ellipsoidal
 Limitation of symmetry breaking
For 𝛼 ≥ 0.5, the transition is merely observed. The ROI might come into
play, leading to more complexities.
Ellipsoidal

𝛼 = 0.5

Spherical
 Limitation of symmetry breaking
• Density and velocity fluctuations play crucial roles in
determining the fate of the final structure.
• Shape evolution might involve more than one possible
processes.

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