The Radial Structure of Galactic Stellar Disks

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

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Galaxies, Edge-On, Surface Photometry, Structural Parameters

Scientific paper

Within the framework of this thesis we present the results from our deep imaging survey μVlim=26-27 mag/sqarcsec on a morphologically selected sample of 72 edge-on disk galaxies. We address the question of the global structure of galactic stellar disks, especially the radial surface brightness profiles at large galactocentric distances. We find that typical radial profiles are better described by a two-slope exponential profile, characterised by an inner hin and outer hout scalelength separated at a break radius Rbr, rather than a sharply-truncated exponential. The position of the mean value for the break radius is at Rbr=2.5±0.8*hin. The inner scalelength is consistently larger than the outer one: hin/hout=4.4±1.7. Results are given for three face-on equivalents, serving as the crucial test to assure the findings for the edge-on sample without suspected geometrical line-of-sight effects. We undoubtedly confirm the deduced two-slope or smooth truncation structure in this few cases. Whereas the extrapolated surface brightness at the break radius fits well to the edge-on sample -taking into account the line-of-sight integration- the scalelengths comparison still seems to be problematic. We derive a significantly higher mean value for the ratio of the break radius to the inner scalelength of Rbrhin=3.9 (3.1, 4.1, 4.2). However, we are yet missing a confirmed and consistent physical origin for these breaks in the outer profiles. In addition, we present a detailed description of observed deviations from our one-component disk input model, and some caveats will be given concerning the available characteristic disk parameters and their model dependence such as the one-, two-, or three-dimensional scalelengths. Some observed peculiar features such as tilted bulge components, or tidal tails, and streams should be emphasised.

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