Dynamical models and Galaxy surveys. Issue Volume 9:Issue S298(2013) (6th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Binney, James; Sanders, Jason L.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 9:Issue S298(2013)
• Page Start: 117
• Page End: 129
• Publication Date: 2014-01-06
• Subjects: stellar dynamics, -- surveys, -- stars: abundances, -- Galaxy: disk, -- Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics, -- Galaxy: stellar content; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921313006297
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: Equilibrium dynamical models are essential tools for extracting science from surveys of our Galaxy. We show how models can be tested with data from a survey before the survey's selection function has been determined. We illustrate the application of this method by presenting some results for the RAVE survey. We extend our published analytic distribution functions to include chemistry and fit the chosen functional form to a combination of the Geneva–Copenhagen survey (GCS) and a sample of G-dwarfs observed at z ~ 1.75 kpc by the SEGUE survey. By including solid dynamics we are able to predict the contribution that the thick disc/halo stars surveyed by SEGUE should make to the GCS survey. We show that the measured [Fe/H] distribution from the GCS includes many fewer stars at [Fe/H] < −0.6 than are predicted. The problem is more likely to lie in discordant abundance scales than with incorrect dynamics.