# Formation of omega Centauri from an ancient nucleated dwarf galaxy in the young Galactic disc

Source: [Formation of omega Centauri from an ancient nucleated dwarf galaxy in the young Galactic disc](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa25fd2c2a3760193b5929>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2025-10-24T11:05:44.216Z

Authors: K. Bekki, K. C. Freeman

Published: 2003-10-14T05:01:49.000Z

## Abstract

We first present a self-consistent dynamical model in which $\\omega$ Cen is formed from an ancient nucleated dwarf galaxy merging with the first generation of the Galactic thin disc in a retrograde manner with respect to the Galactic rotation. Our numerical simulations demonstrate that during merging between the Galaxy and the $\\omega$ Cen's host dwarf with $M\_{\\rm B}$ $\\simeq$ -14 mag and its nucleus mass of $10^7$ $M\_{\\odot}$, the outer stellar envelope of the dwarf is nearly completely stripped whereas the central nucleus can survive from the tidal stripping because of its compactness. The developed naked nucleus has a very bound retrograde orbit around the young Galactic disc, as observed for $\\omega$ Cen, with its apocenter and pericenter distances of $\\sim$ 8 kpc and $\\sim$ 1 kpc, respectively. The Galactic tidal force can induce radial inflow of gas to the dwarf's center and consequently triggers moderately strong nuclear starbursts in a repetitive manner. This result implies that efficient nuclear chemical enrichment resulting from the later starbursts can be closely associated with the origin of the observed relatively young and metal-rich stars in $\\omega$ Cen. Dynamical heating by the $\\omega$ Cen's host can transform the young thin disc into the thick disc during merging.

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## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0310348>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/0310348.pdf>)