Splash bridge models of inclined, gas-rich, direct galaxy collisions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Splash bridges are formed from the direct inelastic collision of gas-rich galaxies. Recent multiwavelength observations of the Taffy galaxies, UGC 12914/15, have revealed complicated gas structures in the bridge. We have upgraded the sticky particle simulation code of Yeager & Struck by adding: the ability to adjust the relative inclination of the gas discs, the ability to track cloud–cloud collisions over time, and additional cooling processes. Inclination effects lead to various morphological features, including filamentary streams of gas stripped from the smaller galactic disc. The offset of disc centres at impact determines whether or not these streams flow in a single direction or multiple directions, even transverse to the motion of the two galaxies. We also find that, across many types of direct collision, independent of the inclination or offset, the distributions of weighted Mach numbers and shock velocities in colliding clouds relax to a very similar form. There is good evidence of prolonged turbulence in the gas of each splash bridge for all inclinations and offsets tested, as a result of continuing cloud collisions, which in turn are the result of shearing and differentially accelerated trajectories. The number distribution of high velocity shocks in cloud collisions, produced in our low inclination models, are in agreement with those observed by Appleton et al. in the Taffy Galaxies with ALMA.