A NICMOS Study of Merging Nuclei in the Toomre Sequence: Finding Order Amid Chaos

Details A NICMOS Study of Merging Nuclei in the Toomre Sequence: Finding Order Amid Chaos A NICMOS Study of Merging Nuclei in the Toomre Sequence: Finding Order Amid Chaos

Jul 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002hst..prop.9402l&link_type=abstract

HST Proposal ID #9402

Physics

Hst Proposal Id #9402

Scientific paper

The final death throes of merging spiral galaxy nuclei are hidden behind dusty maelstroms of colliding gas clouds and glaring star formation activity. The dynamically important centers of mass can only be uncovered by imaging at NIR wavelengths and with the high spatial resolution of HST. We propose a near-infrared imaging program to inspect the physical processes of merging at spatial scales of ~100 pc. The Toomre Sequence provides the best sample of merging galaxies for such a study, because it has been studied extensively from the ground, and the global properties are well understood. Our previous Cycle 9 WFPC2 images of the nuclei have revealed a wealth of information on star forming activity and dust, but based on those data alone it is impossible to determine the locations of the current centers of mass. Determining the mass centers and stellar density profiles is important for understanding both the kinematics and the dynamical evolution of the nuclei, and the formation of nuclear density cusps in galaxies. We propose J, H and K band imaging of the nuclei in early and intermediate stage mergers in the Toomre Sequence. Because of the much reduced effect of dust extinction, the near-infrared images are also optimally suited to searches for nuclear rings and bars around the nuclei. Combined with our ongoing Cycle 9 program, these data will provide a detailed view of the structure and evolution of a sequence of merger nuclei.

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