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(Advanced) Influence of Dark Halos
The dark matter halos have a big effect on the merging
timescale and the evolution of tidal tails in galaxy collisions. The "Big
Halo" option sets the dark matter halo to be four times bigger than in
the standard galaxy models. First, make sure that the "friction" box is
checked, so that dynamical friction is operating. Then:
- Set companion mass to one, pericenter distance to 10 kpc,
and inclination of both disks to 0. Now click "Big Halo" and run the simulation.
How long does it take the galaxies to merge? Compare this to the standard
encounter -- how has it changed, and why?
- What about the tidal tails -- how have they changed? Why?
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