Gravitational interactions and bar formation in bridge and M51-type galaxies

Abstract

We present an analysis of bar structures in a sample of 140 strongly interacting galaxies with bridge features and 57 M51-type galaxies using high-resolution images from the Hubble Space Telescope. This study explores the influence of gravitational interactions on bar formation and stability. Our results show that the bar fraction (\(f_{\textrm{bar}}\)) is significantly low in both samples, with only 16% of galaxies exhibiting bar structures. By examining the relationship between bar fraction and key parameters such as angular separation, redshift, and surface brightness, we find that bars are more likely to form in larger, brighter galaxies with weaker interactions. Galaxies with close companions, high redshift, or fainter surface brightness show a reduced likelihood of developing or maintaining bar structures. These findings suggest that strong gravitational interactions inhibit or disrupt the formation of bars in galaxies, contributing to our understanding of galactic evolution and morphology. Our results provide valuable insights into how external forces shape galactic structures and offer important implications for studying galaxy formation and dynamics.