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4. BARS

Spiral waves, bars, and more generally non-axisymmetric features in the galaxy mass distribution and potential can produce torques and gas radial inflows towards the center. Bars are more long-lived and usually represent a stronger perturbation, and therefore are the privileged way to fuel the nucleus dynamically. Let us first describe the orbits and resonances in a barred potential, to better understand the existence and direction of the torques.