Steve Willner wrote:
In article ,
writes:
Is the NET angular momentum of a globular cluster of stars, zero?

I think that's the case for most clusters, but I vaguely remember
that there are a tiny number that show rotation. I might be mistaken
on either part of this.

As I recall dimly from either reading or hearing talks about this, Omega Cen
appears slightly oblate, although I do not know what if any radial velocity
observations confirm that this is due to rotation. And it may be the core
of a small galaxy captured by the MWG long ago, rather than being a
"classical" globular.

Mike Dworetsky


Is the NET angular momentum of an elliptical galaxy and or the
central bulge of a spiral, zero or close to zero

For elliptical galaxies, a quick web search turned up
https://academic-oup-com/mnras/artic...6.2011.18496.x

The authors claim 86% of early type galaxies are "fast rotators." I
haven't studied the paper to find out what that means or what sample
they defined.

I expect there are many more works on this subject; as I say, it was
a very quick search.

There are also lots of theory papers simulating major mergers, from
which elliptical galaxies are supposed to form. The simulation
results must include a final angular momentum.

--
Mike Dworetsky

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