What term describes the gradual, internal reconfiguration of matter such as the inward gas drift?
Answer
Secular evolution
Secular evolution refers to the slow, steady process of internal redistribution of a galaxy's matter. This occurs over long periods, driven by the presence of a bar, which acts as a cosmic funnel. This process allows galaxies to reorganize their mass and change their profiles without the need for violent, external collisions with other galaxies.
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