Scale Lengths in Disk Surface Brightness as probes of Dust Extinction in 3 Spiral Galaxies: M 51, NGC 3631 and M 100

Details Scale Lengths in Disk Surface Brightness as probes of Dust Extinction in 3 Spiral Galaxies: M 51, NGC 3631 and M 100 Scale Lengths in Disk Surface Brightness as probes of Dust Extinction in 3 Spiral Galaxies: M 51, NGC 3631 and M 100

1996-02-19

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9602098v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

22 pages latex, includes 14 figures; does not include the large figures 1, 2 and 3, as well as a colour plate, that can be obt

Scientific paper

10.1086/177593

We have measured the radial brightness distributions in the disks of three nearby face-on spirals: M 51, NGC 3631, and NGC 4321 (M 100) in the photometric bands B through I, with the addition of the K band for M 51 only. The measurements were made by averaging azimuthally, in three modes, the two-dimensional surface brightness over the disks in photometric images of the objects in each band: (a) over each disk as a whole, (b) over the spiral arms alone, and (c) over the interarm zones alone. From these profiles scale-lengths were derived for comparison with schematic exponential disk models incorporating interstellar dust. These models include both absorption and scattering in their treatment of radiative transfer. The model fits show that the arms exhibit greater optical depth in dust than the interarm zones. The average fraction of emitted stellar light in V which is extinguished by dust within 3 scale-lengths of the center of each galaxy does not rise above 20% in any of them. We show that this conclusion is also valid for models with similar overall quantities of dust, but where this is concentrated in lanes. These can also account for the observed scale-lengths, and their variations.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Scale Lengths in Disk Surface Brightness as probes of Dust Extinction in 3 Spiral Galaxies: M 51, NGC 3631 and M 100 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Scale Lengths in Disk Surface Brightness as probes of Dust Extinction in 3 Spiral Galaxies: M 51, NGC 3631 and M 100, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Scale Lengths in Disk Surface Brightness as probes of Dust Extinction in 3 Spiral Galaxies: M 51, NGC 3631 and M 100 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-513961