On the relative frequency of flocculent and grand design spiral structures in barred galaxies

Abstract

The bars in late-type spiral galaxies (SBbc to SBm and SABbc to SABm) show little correlation with grand design spiral structure, unlike the bars in early-type galaxies. This is further evidence for two different types of bars in the SB morphological class, and two different types of ovals in the SAB class. The weak, short, and exponential-shaped bars that tend to occur in late-type galaxies may end far inside the corotation resonance and be unable to produce large-scale wave patterns in the outer stellar disks. The strong, long, and flat-shaped bars that tend to occur in early-type galaxies may extend closer to the corotation resonance and be able to produce strong and symmetric arms. This difference in bar-spiral correlation is consistent with the theoretical prediction that short-wavelength trailing spirals propagate outward beyond corotation and inward inside corotation. 30 refs.