From Detailed Galaxy Simulations to a Realistic End-of-Mission Gaia Catalogue

Abstract

We address the problem of identifying remnants of satellite galaxies in the halo of our galaxy with Gaia data. We make use of N-body simulations of dwarf galaxies being disrupted in the halo of our galaxy combined with a Monte Carlo model of the Milky Way galaxy. The models are converted to a simulated Gaia catalogue containing a realistic number ($\sim10^8$--$10^9$) of stars. The simulated catalogue can be used to study how to handle the large data set that Gaia will provide and to study issues such as how to best retrieve information on substructure in the Galactic halo. The techniques described are applicable to any set of N-body simulations of (parts of) the Galaxy.

4 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Proceedings of the Symposium "The Three-Dimensional Universe with Gaia", 4-7 October 2004, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, France (ESA SP-576)