Residuals of an Equilibrium Model for the Galaxy Reveal a State of Disequilibrium in the Solar Neighborhood

Abstract

We simultaneously model the gravitational potential and phase space distribution function (DF) of giant stars near the Sun using the Gaia DR2 radial velocity catalog. We assume that the Galaxy is in equilibrium and is symmetric about both the spin axis of the disk and the Galactic midplane. The potential is taken as a sum of terms that nominally represent contributions from the gas disk, stellar disk, bulge, and dark matter halo. Our DF model for the giants comprise two components to account for a mix of thin and thick disk stars. The DF for each component is described by an analytic function of the energy, the spin angular momentum, and the vertical energy, in accord with Jeans theorem. We present model predictions for the radial and vertical forces within ∼ 2 kpc of the Sun, highlighting the rotation curve and vertical force profile in the Solar Neighbourhood. Finally, we show residuals for star counts in the R − z and z − v z planes as well as maps of the mean radial and azimuthal velocities in the z − v z plane. Using our model for the potential, we also examine the star count residuals in action-frequency-angle coordinates. The Gaia phase spirals, velocity arches, some of the known moving groups and bending modes appear as well-defined features in these maps.