The Origin of the Spin-Orbit Alignment of Galaxy Pairs

Galaxies are not just randomly distributed in space; instead, a variety of galaxy alignments have been found over a wide range of scales. Such alignments are the outcome of the combined effect of interacting neighbors and the surrounding large-scale structure. Here, we focus on the spin-orbit alignment (SOA) of galaxy pairs, the dynamical coherence between the spin of a target galaxy and the orbital angular momentum of its neighbor. Based on a recent cosmological hydrodynamic simulation, the IllustrisTNG project, we identify paired galaxies with mass ratios from 1/10 to 10 at z = 0 and statistically analyze their spin-orbit angle distribution. We find a clear preference for prograde orientations (i.e., SOA), which is more prominent for closer pairs. The SOA is stronger for less massive targets in lower-density regions. The SOA witnessed at z = 0 has been developed progressively since z = 2. There is a clear positive correlation between the alignment strength and the interaction duration with its current neighbor. Our results suggest the scenario in which the SOA is developed mainly by interactions with a neighbor for an extended period of time, rather than by the primordial torque exerted by the large-scale structure.