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Main Authors: Wang, Chun, Huang, Yang, Beers, Timothy C., Das, Payel, Yuan, Haibo, Xie, Lizhi, Shao, Shi
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.21551
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author Wang, Chun
Huang, Yang
Beers, Timothy C.
Das, Payel
Yuan, Haibo
Xie, Lizhi
Shao, Shi
author_facet Wang, Chun
Huang, Yang
Beers, Timothy C.
Das, Payel
Yuan, Haibo
Xie, Lizhi
Shao, Shi
contents We present maps of the mean metallicity distributions on the Galactocentric $R$--$Z$ plane at different azimuthal angles using red clump stars selected from the LAMOST and APOGEE surveys. In the inner disk ($R < $ 11\,kpc), the metallicity distribution is symmetric between the upper and lower disk. However, we find a North-South metallicity asymmetry in the outer disk ($R > 11$\,kpc), especially towards the anti-Galactic center ($-5^\circ < Φ< 15^\circ$) direction. By further dissecting the map in age space, we detect this asymmetry across all mono-age stellar populations. However, the asymmetry is less pronounced in older populations ($τ> 8$ Gyr) compared to younger ones ($τ< 6$\,Gyr). This reduced significance likely stems from three factors: larger age uncertainties, fewer stars in the outer disk, and the kinematically hotter nature of older populations. The observed metallicity asymmetry may be the consequence of the purturbation of the recent pericentric passage through the Galactic disk and tidal force of the well-known Sagittarius dwarf galaxy.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_21551
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A North-South Metallicity Asymmetry in the Outer Galactic disk -- Evidence for the Pericentric Passage of the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy
Wang, Chun
Huang, Yang
Beers, Timothy C.
Das, Payel
Yuan, Haibo
Xie, Lizhi
Shao, Shi
Astrophysics of Galaxies
We present maps of the mean metallicity distributions on the Galactocentric $R$--$Z$ plane at different azimuthal angles using red clump stars selected from the LAMOST and APOGEE surveys. In the inner disk ($R < $ 11\,kpc), the metallicity distribution is symmetric between the upper and lower disk. However, we find a North-South metallicity asymmetry in the outer disk ($R > 11$\,kpc), especially towards the anti-Galactic center ($-5^\circ < Φ< 15^\circ$) direction. By further dissecting the map in age space, we detect this asymmetry across all mono-age stellar populations. However, the asymmetry is less pronounced in older populations ($τ> 8$ Gyr) compared to younger ones ($τ< 6$\,Gyr). This reduced significance likely stems from three factors: larger age uncertainties, fewer stars in the outer disk, and the kinematically hotter nature of older populations. The observed metallicity asymmetry may be the consequence of the purturbation of the recent pericentric passage through the Galactic disk and tidal force of the well-known Sagittarius dwarf galaxy.
title A North-South Metallicity Asymmetry in the Outer Galactic disk -- Evidence for the Pericentric Passage of the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.21551