Spiral Galaxies Unwound: Density Waves, Starbursts, and the Cosmic Arms

A journey into the physics of spiral galaxies—how their stunning arms form and persist. We explain the winding problem, the density-wave (cosmic traffic jam) picture, and the SSPSF self-propagating star formation model, and what each says about where stars are born. We explore Hubble's classifications, why some galaxies challenge the paradigm with leading arms or flocculent spirals, and the legacy of Lindblad and Lin. Along the way, we touch on current debates and the idea that multiple processes may shape these grand cosmic structures.

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