Optical Rotation Curves and Linewidths for Tully-Fisher Applications

Abstract

We present optical long-slit rotation curves (RCs) for 304 northern Sb-Sc UGC galaxies originally selected for Tully-Fisher (TF) applications. 20% of the galaxies were observed twice or more, allowing for a proper determination of systematic errors. Various measures of maximum rotational velocity to be used as input in the TF relation are tested on the basis of their repeatability, minimization of TF scatter, and match with 21cm linewidths. The best measure of TF velocity, v2.2, is given at the location of peak rotational velocity of a pure exponential disk. Optical TF calibrations yield internal scatter comparable to, if not smaller than, the best calibrations based on single-dish 21cm radio linewidths. Even though resolved HI RCs are more extended than their optical counterpart, a tight match between optical and radio linewidths exists since the bulk of the HI surface density is enclosed within the optical radius. We model the 304 RCs presented here and a sample of 958 curves from Mathewson etal. (1992) with various fitting functions. An arctan function provides an adequate simple fit (not accounting for non-circular motions and spiral arms). More elaborate, empirical models may yield a better match at the expense of strong covariances. We caution against physical or universal parameterizations for TF applications. (abridged)