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Article Contents

ABSTRACT

1.INTRODUCTION

2.PRELIMINARIES

2.1.Relaxation Rate

2.2.Mathematical Formulation

2.3.Orbits

2.4.Resonances

2.5.Wave-Particle Scattering

2.6.Vertical Motion

3.LOCAL THEORY OF DENSITY WAVES

3.1.Plane Waves in a Thin Mass Sheet

3.2.Dispersion Relations

3.3.Axisymmetric Stability

3.4.Self-consistent Density Waves

3.5.Group Velocity

3.6.Swing Amplification

4.BAR INSTABILITY

4.1.Mechanism for the Bar Mode

4.2.Predicted Stability

4.3.Residual Concerns

5.LOP-SIDED MODES

6.GROOVE AND EDGE MODES

7.SPIRAL STRUCTURE

7.1.Spirals as Global Modes of Smooth Disks

7.2.Recurrent Transients

7.3.Spirals as Responses to Density Fluctuations

7.4.Non-linear Spiral Dynamics

7.5.Spirals in Global N-body Simulations

7.6.A Recurrent Instability Cycle?

8.BUCKLING INSTABILITIES AND WARPS

8.1.Local Theory of Bending Waves

8.2.Global Bending Modes

8.3.Simulations of Buckling Modes

8.4.Disks in Halos

8.5.Misaligned Infall

8.6.Warps Driven by Tides

9.BARS

9.1.Origin of Bars

9.2.Frequency of Bars

9.3.Structure of Bars

9.4.Gas Flow

9.5.Bar Pattern Speeds

9.6.Bars Within Bars

9.7.Buckling of Bars

9.8.Dynamical Friction on Bars

10.SECULAR EVOLUTION WITHIN DISKS

10.1.Heating by Spirals

10.2.Churning by Transient Spirals

10.3.Cloud Scattering

10.4.Black Holes in the Halo

10.5.Discussion

11.FRAGILITY OF DISKS

12.CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

APPENDIX: RELAXATION TIME IN SPHEROIDS AND DISKS