Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2004-04-20
Astrophys.J.665:1104-1114,2007
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted by ApJ
Scientific paper
10.1086/519753
We investigate bulge and disk scaling relations using a volume-corrected sample of early- to intermediate-type disk galaxies in which, importantly, the biasing flux from additional nuclear components has been modeled and removed. Structural parameters are obtained from a seeing-convolved, bulge+disk+nuclear-component decomposition applied to near-infrared surface brightness profiles spanning ~10 pc to the outer disk. Bulge and disk parameters, and bulge-to-disk ratios, are analyzed as a function of bulge luminosity, disk luminosity, galaxy central velocity dispersion, and galaxy Hubble type. Mathematical expressions are given for the stronger relations, which can be used to test and constrain galaxy formation models. Photometric parameters of both bulges and disks are observed to correlate with bulge luminosity and with central velocity dispersion. In contrast, for the unbarred, early to intermediate types covered by the sample, Hubble type does not correlate with bulge and disk components, nor their various ratios. In this sense, the early-to-intermediate spiral Hubble sequence is scale-free. However, galaxies themselves are not scale-free, the critical scale being the luminosity of the bulge. Bulge luminosity is shown to affect the disk parameters, such that central surface brightness becomes fainter, and scale-length bigger, with bulge luminosity. The lack of significant correlations between bulge pararmeters (size, luminosity or density) on disk luminosity, remains a challenge for secular evolution models of bulge growth.
Balcells Marc
Graham Alister W.
Peletier Reynier F.
No associations
LandOfFree
Galactic Bulges from HST NICMOS Observations: Global Scaling Relations 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 Galactic Bulges from HST NICMOS Observations: Global Scaling Relations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Galactic Bulges from HST NICMOS Observations: Global Scaling Relations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-55072