2024MNRAS.529.1035A

A simple one-dimensional axisymmetric disc model is applied to the kinematics of O type and B type stars (OB stars) near the Sun obtained from Gaia Data Release 3 catalogue. The model determines the 'local centrifugal speed' V_c(R₀) - defined as the circular velocity in the Galactocentric rest frame, where the star would move in a near-circular orbit if the potential is axisymmetric with the local potential of the Galaxy. We find that the V_c(R₀) values and their gradient vary across the selected region of stars within the solar neighbourhood. By comparing with an N-body/hydrodynamic simulation of a Milky Way-like galaxy, we find that the kinematics of the young stars in the solar neighbourhood is affected by the Local arm, which makes it difficult to measure V_c(R₀). However, from the resemblance between the observational data and the simulation, we suggest that the known rotational velocity gap between the Coma Bernices and Hyades-Pleiades moving groups could be driven by the co-rotation resonance of the Local arm, which can be used to infer the azimuthally averaged circular velocity. We find that V_c(R) obtained from the D < 2 kpc sample is well matched with this gap at the position of the Local arm. Hence, we argue that our results from the D < 2 kpc sample, V_c(R₀) = 234 ± 2 km s^–1, are close to the azimuthally averaged circular velocity rather than the local centrifugal speed, which is influenced by the presence of the Local arm.