Dynamical Models for NGC 6503 using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Technique

Details Dynamical Models for NGC 6503 using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Technique Dynamical Models for NGC 6503 using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Technique

2010-02-03

arxiv.org/abs/1002.0819v3

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics

57 pages, 22 figures, ApJ accepted. Minor changes made to match accepted article.

Scientific paper

We use Bayesian statistics and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques to construct dynamical models for the spiral galaxy NGC 6503. The constraints include surface brightness profiles which display a Freeman Type II structure; HI and ionized gas rotation curves; the stellar rotation, which is nearly coincident with the ionized gas curve; and the line of sight stellar dispersion, with a sigma-drop at the centre. The galaxy models consist of a Sersic bulge, an exponential disc with an optional inner truncation and a cosmologically motivated dark halo. The Bayesian/MCMC technique yields the joint posterior probability distribution function for the input parameters. We examine several interpretations of the data: the Type II surface brightness profile may be due to dust extinction, to an inner truncated disc or to a ring of bright stars; and we test separate fits to the gas and stellar rotation curves to determine if the gas traces the gravitational potential. We test each of these scenarios for bar stability, ruling out dust extinction. We also find that the gas likely does not trace the gravitational potential, since the predicted stellar rotation curve is then inconsistent with the observed stellar rotation curve. The disc is well fit by an inner-truncated profile, but the possibility of ring formation by a bar to reproduce the Type II profile is also a realistic model. We further find that the halo must have a cuspy profile with gamma > 1; the bulge has a lower M/L than the disc, suggesting a star forming component in the centre of the galaxy; and the bulge, as expected for this late type galaxy, has a low Sersic index with n_b~1-2, suggesting a formation history dominated by secular evolution.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Dynamical Models for NGC 6503 using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Technique 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 Dynamical Models for NGC 6503 using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Technique, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dynamical Models for NGC 6503 using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Technique will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-602469