Large-Scale Atomic and Molecular Gas Distributions in Disk Galaxies. II. A Scaling Law

Details Large-Scale Atomic and Molecular Gas Distributions in Disk Galaxies. II. A Scaling Law Large-Scale Atomic and Molecular Gas Distributions in Disk Galaxies. II. A Scaling Law

Sep 1990

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1990apj...360..543w&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal v.360, p.543

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

6

Galaxies: Interstellar Matter, Galaxies: Structure, Interstellar: Molecules

Scientific paper

Based on the theoretical model developed in the companion paper, we analyze the radial profiles of atomic and molecular gas in 14 nearby spiral galaxies. The sample consists of galaxies ranging in morphological types from Sab to Scd and is selected based primarily on availability of adequate radial CO and H I mapping data. It is shown that if the disk's surface mass density as a function of radius is approximately exponential, then the present model suggests a scaling law to describe the characteristics of radial gas distributions in galaxies. According to this scaling law, more massive spiral galaxies should possess a smaller fractional mass in H I and a larger fractional mass in H2 gas as compared to less massive ones. Relationships of M(H I) and M(H2) as functions of the total mass of the disk component are derived and compared with observational estimates. To explain the physical implications of this scaling law, we propose that the main factor that determines the gas contents in a late-type galaxy is its local mass distribution within the disk. This idea is supported by both the disk evolution model and the available data. Effects of the spheroidal bulge and halo mass components are discussed. We also consider the possible applications of this scaling law to earlier morphological types and dwarf irregular galaxies.

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