2D kinematics of simulated disc merger remnants

Abstract

We present a 2D kinematic analysis for a sample of simulated binary disc merger remnants with mass ratios 1:1 and 3:1. For the progenitor discs we used pure stellar models as well as models with 10 per cent of their mass in gas. A multitude of phenomena also observed in real galaxies are found in the simulations. These include misaligned rotation, embedded discs, gas rings, counter-rotating cores (CRCs) and kinematic misaligned discs. Using the 2D maps we illustrate projection effects and the change in properties of a merger remnant when gas is included in the merger. We find that kinematic peculiar subsystems are preferably formed in equal-mass mergers. Equal-mass collisionless remnants can show almost no rotation, regular rotation or strong kinematic misalignment. The inclusion of gas makes the remnants appear more round (1:1) and axisymmetric (3:1). CRCs are almost exclusively formed in equal-mass mergers with a dissipational component. 3:1 remnants show a much more regular structure. We quantify these properties by applying the kinemetric methods recently developed by Krajnović et al. This work will help to understand observations of elliptical galaxies with integral field spectrographs, like SAURON. © 2007 RAS.