Angular momentum of galaxies

The tidal interaction picture is applied to elliptical and spiral galaxies. It gives the correct amount of angular momentum for our Galaxy. Monte Carlo calculations are used to predict the distribution of total angular momenta for galaxies of a given mass (or luminosity). The observational data are in good agreement with the predicted individual distribution shapes and also with systematic properties with mass. The data are consistent with a dissipationless collapse for elliptical galaxies. The tidal theory predicts a distribution of relative sizes for elliptical galaxies at a given absolute magnitude in agreement with Fish's observations, but for spiral galaxies predicts too many high-surface-brightness small-scale-length disks. For tidal interactions to produce the correct amount of angular momentum, most of the mass in the universe must be contributed by galaxies and their halos and not by some smooth diffuse component