Radial Distribution of Stellar Motions in Gaia DR2

Understand

By taking advantage of the superb measurements of position and velocity for an unprecedented large number of stars provided in Gaia DR2, we have generated the first maps of the rotation velocity, $V_{\rm rot}$, and vertical velocity, $V_{\rm z}$, distributions as a function of the Galactocentric radius, $R_{\rm gal}$, across a radial range of $5<R_{\rm gal}<12$~kpc.

• In the $R-V_{\rm rot}$ map, we have identified many diagonal ridge features, which are compared with the location of the spiral arms and the expected outer Lindblad resonance of the Galactic bar.
• We have detected also radial wave-like oscillations of the peak of the vertical velocity distribution.