Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2002-08-15
Astrophys.J. 581 (2002) 1013-1018
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
6 pages, 3 embedded figures. Astrophysical Journal, accepted
Scientific paper
10.1086/344337
Viscous redistribution of mass in Milky Way-type galactic disks is an appealing way of generating an exponential stellar profile over many scale lengths, almost independent of initial conditions, requiring only that the viscous timescale and star formation timescale are approximately equal. However, galaxies with solid-body rotation curves cannot undergo viscous evolution. Low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies have exponential surface brightness profiles, yet have slowly rising, nearly solid-body, rotation curves. Because of this, viscous evolution may be inefficient in LSB galaxies: the exponential profiles, instead would give important insight into initial conditions for galaxy disk formation. Using star formation laws from the literature, and tuning the efficiency of viscous processes to reproduce an exponential stellar profile in Milky Way-type galaxies, I test the role of viscous evolution in LSB galaxies. Under the conservative and not unreasonable condition that LSB galaxies are gravitationally unstable for at least a part of their lives, I find that it is impossible to rule out a significant role for viscous evolution. This type of model still offers an attractive way of producing exponential disks, even in LSB galaxies with slowly-rising rotation curves.
No associations
LandOfFree
Exponential Stellar Disks in Low Surface Brightness Galaxies: A Critical Test of Viscous Evolution 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 Exponential Stellar Disks in Low Surface Brightness Galaxies: A Critical Test of Viscous Evolution, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Exponential Stellar Disks in Low Surface Brightness Galaxies: A Critical Test of Viscous Evolution will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-514757