Astronomy and astrophysics Galactic structure and dynamics Concept
Density wave theory
Summary
Density wave theory explains the spiral arms of disc galaxies as waves of higher density that rotate through the disc with a fixed pattern speed. Stars and gas pass through the arms, like cars through a traffic jam, instead of staying in them. The theory was proposed by C. C. Lin and F. H. Shu in 1964, and it solves the winding problem of material arms.
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| Tag | 9G3VNW5ZP0 |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://9G3VNW5ZP0 |
| Kind | concept |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 85A05, 85A30 |
| Same as | |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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