2025-08-05 –, Kuiper Atrium
Galaxy mergers are known to play a pivotal role in shaping the structure and evolution of galaxies across the universe. In this proposed study, I aim to investigate how spiral galaxies transform morphologically after undergoing merger events with companion galaxies. The primary focus will be on understanding the relationship between initial merger conditions and the resulting galaxy structures.
This research will integrate observational data from major surveys such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) archives. High-resolution astrophysical simulations including IllustrisTNG, EAGLE, GADGET, and RAMSES will be used to analyze the post-merger structural changes in spiral galaxies across different environments. To enhance conceptual understanding and illustrate merger dynamics, Universe Sandbox is employed as a visualization tool.
Key factors such as mass ratios, angular momentum, gas content, and collision geometry will be explored and correlated with the resulting galaxy morphology: elliptical, lenticular, irregular, or transitional. Environmental influences like local galaxy density and cluster membership will also be examined for their effect on merger dynamics.
The study will also investigate the behavior of central black holes during galaxy mergers. As galaxies collide, their supermassive black holes are expected to interact and eventually merge. This process offers a valuable opportunity to study the comparative strength of each black hole including how much matter, gas, and nearby stellar material may be pulled into them. Such mergers allow us to determine which black hole is more massive, how their spins affect the remnant, and what physical effects emerge during their coalescence. These extreme interactions not only reshape galactic cores but also generate gravitational waves, serving as key targets for detectors like LISA.
To quantify morphological evolution, I will use Python-based tools like AstroPy, NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib, alongside structural indices such as Gini-M20 and the CAS (Concentration, Asymmetry, Smoothness) metrics.
This proposed research seeks to contribute to our understanding of how galaxy mergers influence not only visible matter but also the distribution of dark matter within clusters. Ultimately, the findings could offer valuable insights into the broader processes of galaxy formation and cosmic structure evolution.
Keywords: Galaxy Mergers, Spiral Galaxies, Galaxy Morphology, Astrophysical Simulations, Cosmic Structure, Dark Matter Dynamics, Supermassive Black Hole Mergers.
Anmol Gandhi is an Independent Astrophysics Researcher from India with a background in Information Technology and a strong research focus on galaxy mergers, pulsars, and high-energy astrophysics. He presented his work on pulsar interactions at IPSC 2025 (IIT Roorkee), which is currently under consideration for publication in a Springer-affiliated journal. Anmol contributes to the SGAC Near-Earth Object (NEO) Project Group and is conducting theoretical modeling of spiral galaxy mergers using real data from SDSS and advanced simulations like IllustrisTNG and EAGLE. Additionally, he is independently developing a theoretical strategy framework for space debris mitigation. His current work explores compact object interactions, particularly magnetar–black hole mergers and investigates the possible influence of dark matter on their dynamics. Anmol aspires to pursue deeper research in high-energy astrophysics and contribute to international collaborations exploring cosmic structure formation.