Research Division Seminar
A new picture for the Large Magellanic Cloud-Milky Way interaction

Abstract

Over the past decade, our understanding of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and its relationship to the Milky Way (MW) has undergone a paradigm shift. The LMC now appears to be on the order of 20% of the MW mass. At this mass, the LMC creates large dynamical effects, opening up new avenues for studying the MW in cosmic context, time-dependent dynamics in general, and even the nature of dark matter. I will discuss (1) how the LMC is strongly deforming the MW by displacing the MW stellar disc, (2) how the MW-LMC pair fits in our understanding of hierarchical galaxy assembly, and (3) what the LMC can tell us about terrestrial searches for dark matter. I will also present the theoretical tools driving the science, including methods for flexibly parameterising time-dependent dynamics, as well as robust methods for studying the stability of dynamical systems.

Zoom: 

https://rediris.zoom.us/j/81076006712?pwd=VWNHSS94dFBPS3YyNlpsellIdG1hUT09

Meeting ID: 810 7600 6712            Passcode: 304299

Youtube: https://youtu.be/Puv8s0j7HwY