The Disruption of a Small Disc Galaxy by a Massive Elliptical

N-body simulations of the capture of a small disc galaxy by a massive elliptical primary show that tidal forces destroy the inner part of the disc in a brief episode at some critical distance from the centre of the primary. We suggest that this phase may be characterised by chaotic motions in the disc material causing a burst of star formation. Such an event would offer a natural explanation of the colour differences between stars in shells around an elliptical galaxy and those in the galaxy itself. We report a study of orbits in the disc prior to and during its disruption, designed to test this hypothesis.