Disk Surface Brightness Profile Research Articles

SPATIALLY RESOLVED SPECTROSCOPIC STAR FORMATION HISTORIES OF NEARBY DISKS: HINTS OF STELLAR MIGRATION

We use the Mitchell Spectrograph (formerly VIRUS-P) to observe 12 nearby disk galaxies. We successfully measure ages in the outer disk in six systems. In three cases (NGC 2684, NGC 6155, and NGC 7437), we find that a downward break in the disk surface brightness profile corresponds with a change in the dominant stellar population with the interior being dominated by active star formation and the exterior having older stellar populations that are best-fit with star formation histories that decline with time. The observed increase in average stellar ages beyond a profile break is similar to theoretical models that predict surface brightness breaks are caused by stellar migration, with the outer disk being populated from scattered old interior stars. In three more cases (IC 1132, NGC 4904, and NGC 6691), we find no significant change in the stellar population as one crosses the break radius. In these galaxies, both the inner and outer disks are dominated by active star formation and younger stellar populations. While radial migration can contribute to the stellar populations beyond the break, it appears more than one mechanism is required to explain all of our observed stellar profile breaks.

IMAGES OF THE EXTENDED OUTER REGIONS OF THE DEBRIS RING AROUND HR 4796 A

We present high-contrast images of HR 4796 A taken with Subaru/HiCIAO in H-band, resolving the debris disk in scattered light. The application of specialized angular differential imaging methods (ADI) allows us to trace the inner edge of the disk with high precision, and reveals a pair of "streamers" extending radially outwards from the ansae. Using a simple disk model with a power-law surface brightness profile, we demonstrate that the observed streamers can be understood as part of the smoothly tapered outer boundary of the debris disk, which is most visible at the ansae. Our observations are consistent with the expected result of a narrow planetesimal ring being ground up in a collisional cascade, yielding dust with a wide range of grain sizes. Radiation forces leave large grains in the ring and push smaller grains onto elliptical, or even hyperbolic trajectories. We measure and characterize the disk's surface brightness profile, and confirm the previously suspected offset of the disk's center from the star's position along the ring's major axis. Furthermore, we present first evidence for an offset along the minor axis. Such offsets are commonly viewed as signposts for the presence of unseen planets within a disk's cavity. Our images also offer new constraints on the presence of companions down to the planetary mass regime (~9 Jupiter masses at 0.5", ~3 Jupiter masses at 1").

THE ADVANCED CAMERA FOR SURVEYS NEARBY GALAXY SURVEY TREASURY. IV. THE STAR FORMATION HISTORY OF NGC 2976

We present resolved stellar photometry of NGC 2976 obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) as part of the ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury (ANGST) program. The data cover the radial extent of the major axis of the disk out to 6 kpc, or ~6 scale lengths. The outer disk was imaged to a depth of M_F606W ~ 1, and an inner field was imaged to the crowding limit at a depth of M_F606W ~ -1. Through detailed analysis and modeling of these CMDs we have reconstructed the star formation history of the stellar populations currently residing in these portions of the galaxy, finding similar ancient populations at all radii but significantly different young populations at increasing radii. In particular, outside of the well-measured break in the disk surface brightness profile, the age of the youngest population increases with distance from the galaxy center, suggesting that star formation is shutting down from the outside-in. We use our measured star formation history, along with H I surface density measurements, to reconstruct the surface density profile of the disk during previous epochs. Comparisons between the recovered star formation rates and reconstructed gas densities at previous epochs are consistent with star formation following the Schmidt law during the past 0.5 Gyrs, but with a drop in star formation efficiency at low gas densities, as seen in local galaxies at the present day. The current rate and gas density suggest that rapid star formation in NGC 2976 is currently in the process of ceasing from the outside-in due to gas depletion. This process of outer disk gas depletion and inner disk star formation was likely triggered by an interaction with the core of the M81 group >~1 Gyr ago that stripped the gas from the galaxy halo and/or triggered gas inflow from the outer disk toward the galaxy center.

Detailed Atmosphere Model Fits to Disk‐dominated ULX Spectra

We have chosen six ultraluminous X-ray sources from the XMM-Newton archive whose spectra have high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and can be fitted solely with a disk model without requiring any power-law component. To estimate systematic errors in the inferred parameters, we fit every spectrum to two different disk models, one based on local blackbody emission (KERRBB) and one based on detailed atmosphere modeling (BHSPEC). Both incorporate full general relativistic treatment of the disk surface brightness profile, photon Doppler shifts, and photon trajectories. We found in every case that they give almost identical fits and similar acceptable parameters. The best-fit value of the most interesting parameter, the mass of the central object, is between 23 and 73 M☉ in five of the six examples. In every case, the best-fit inclination angle and mass are correlated, in the sense that large mass corresponds to high inclination. Even after allowing for this degeneracy, we find that, with 99.9% formal statistical confidence, three of the six objects have mass 25 M☉; for the other three, these data are consistent with a wide range of masses. A mass greater than several hundred M☉ is unlikely for the three best-constrained objects. These fits also suggest comparatively rapid black hole spin in the three objects whose masses are relatively well determined, but our estimate of the spin is subject to significant systematic error having to do with uncertainty in the underlying surface brightness profile.

THE OUTER DISKS OF EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES. I. SURFACE-BRIGHTNESS PROFILES OF BARRED GALAXIES

We present a study of 66 barred, early-type (S0-Sb) disk galaxies, focused on the disk surface brightness profile outside the bar region and the nature of Freeman Type I and II profiles, their origins, and their possible relation to disk truncations. This paper discusses the data and their reduction, outlines our classification system, and presents $R$-band profiles and classifications for all galaxies in the sample. The profiles are derived from a variety of different sources, including the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (Data Release 5). For about half of the galaxies, we have profiles derived from more than one telescope; this allows us to check the stability and repeatability of our profile extraction and classification. The vast majority of the profiles are reliable down to levels of mu_R ~ 27 mag arcsec^-2; in exceptional cases, we can trace profiles down to mu_R > 28. We can typically follow disk profiles out to at least 1.5 times the traditional optical radius R_25; for some galaxies, we find light extending to ~ 3 R_25. We classify the profiles into three main groups: Type I (single-exponential), Type II (down-bending), and Type III (up-bending). The frequencies of these types are approximately 27%, 42%, and 24%, respectively, plus another 6% which are combinations of Types II and III. We further classify Type II profiles by where the break falls in relation to the bar length, and in terms of the postulated mechanisms for breaks at large radii (classical trunction of star formation versus the influence of the Outer Lindblad Resonance of the bar). We also classify the Type III profiles by the probable morphology of the outer light (disk or spheroid). Illustrations are given for all cases. (Abridged)

Is There Evidence for Flat Cores in the Halos of Dwarf Galaxies? The Case of NGC 3109 and NGC 6822

Two well-studied dwarf galaxies, NGC 3109 and NGC 6822, present some of the strongest observational support for a flat core at the center of galactic dark matter (DM) halos. We use detailed, cosmologically motivated numerical models to investigate the systematic effects and the accuracy of recovering parameters of the galaxies. Some of our models match the observed structure of the two galaxies remarkably well. Our analysis shows that the rotation curves of these two galaxies are instead quite compatible with their DM halos having steep cuspy density profiles. The rotation curves in our models are measured using standard observational techniques, projecting velocities along the line of sight of an imaginary observer and performing a tilted-ring analysis. The models reproduce the rotation curves of both galaxies and the disk surface brightness profiles, as well as the profile of isophotal ellipticity and position angle. The models are centrally dominated by baryons; however, the DM component is globally dominant. The simulated disk mass is marginally consistent with a stellar mass-to-light ratio, in agreement with the observed colors and the detected gaseous mass. We show that noncircular motions, combined with gas pressure support and projection effects, result in a large underestimation of the circular velocity in the central ~1 kpc region, creating the illusion of a constant-density core. Although the systematic effects mentioned above are stronger in barred systems, they are also present in axisymmetric disks. Our results strongly suggest that there is no contradiction between the observed rotation curves in dwarf galaxies and the cuspy central DM density profiles predicted by cold dark matter models.

The Rotation Curve of Simulated and Real Galaxies

We discuss the accuracy for the recovery of mass profiles in simulated dwarf galaxies. We also present cosmologically motivated, high resolution N -body models for two nearby dwarf galaxies: NGC 3109 and NGC 6822. The rotation curves in our models are measured using standard observational techniques, projecting velocities along the line of sight of an artificial observer and performing a tilted ring analysis. Our models reproduce the rotation curves of both galaxies, the disk surface brightness profiles as well as the profile of isophotal ellipticity and position angle. We show that non-circular motions combined with gas pressure support and projection effects systematically underestimate by up to 50% the rotation velocity of cold gas in the central ~1 kpc region, creating the illusion of a constant density core.

Microlensing of Circumstellar Disks

We investigate the microlensing effects on a source star surrounded by a circumstellar disk, as a function of wavelength. The microlensing light curve of the system encodes the geometry and surface brightness profile of the disk. In the mid- and far-infrared, the emission of the system is dominated by the thermal emission from the cold dusty disk. For a system located at the Galactic center, we find typical magnifications to be of order 10%-20% or higher, depending on the disk surface brightness profile, and the event lasts over 1 yr. At around 20 μm, where the emission for the star and the disk are comparable, the difference in the emission areas results in a chromatic microlensing event. Finally, in the near-infrared and visible, where the emission of the star dominates, the fraction of star light directly reflected by the disk slightly modifies the light curve of the system, which is no longer that of a point source. In each case, the corresponding light curve can be used to probe some of the disk properties. A fraction of 10-3 to 10-2 of optical microlensing events are expected to be associated with circumstellar disk systems. We show that the lensing signal of the disk can be detected with sparse follow-up observations of the next generation space telescopes. While direct imaging studies of circumstellar disks are limited to the solar neighborhood, this microlensing technique can probe very distant disk systems living in various environments and has the potential to reveal a larger diversity of circumstellar disks.

Inner-truncated Disks in Galaxies

We present an analysis of the disk brightness profiles of 218 spiral and lenticular galaxies. At least 28% of disk galaxies exhibit inner truncations in these profiles. There are no significant trends of truncation incidence with Hubble type, but the incidence among barred systems is 49%, more than 4 times that for nonbarred galaxies. However, not all barred systems have inner truncations, and not all inner-truncated systems are currently barred. Truncations represent a real dearth of disk stars in the inner regions and are not an artifact of our selection or fitting procedures nor the result of obscuration by dust. Disk surface brightness profiles in the outer regions are well represented by simple exponentials for both truncated and nontruncated disks. However, truncated and nontruncated systems have systematically different slopes and central surface brightness parameters for their disk brightness distributions. Truncation radii do not appear to correlate well with the sizes or brightnesses of the bulges. This suggests that the low angular momentum material apparently missing from the inner disk was not simply consumed in forming the bulge population. Disk parameters and the statistics of bar orientations in our sample indicate that the missing stars of the inner disk have not simply been redistributed azimuthally into bar structures. The sharpness of the brightness truncations and their locations with respect to other galactic structures suggest that resonances associated with disk kinematics, or tidal interactions with the mass of bulge stars, might be responsible for this phenomenon.

Quantitative Study of Galaxy Morphology

We use an automatic algorithm to fit two-dimensional bulge and disk surface brightness profiles to a sample of 200 Sloan Digital Sky Survey Early Data Release (SDSS EDR) galaxies of known redshift and brighter than r=16. The bulge-to-disk (B/D) luminosity ratios can be combined with an estimate of the galaxy’s local environment to address a number of key issues that are central to our understanding of galaxy formation: How do B/D ratios depend upon galaxy luminosity? What are the disk and spheroid luminosity functions for field galaxies? How does the total luminosity in bulges and disks depend on environment?

Blue lobes in the Hydra A cluster central galaxy

We present new U- and I-band images of the centrally dominant galaxy in the Hydra A cluster, obtained with the 2.5 m Isaac Newton Telescope at La Palma. The galaxy is centered in a poor, X-ray-luminous cluster whose gaseous intracluster medium is apparently cooling at a rate of m-dot(sub CF) approximately 3000 solar masses/yr. The galaxy's structure is that of a normal giant elliptical galaxy, apart from the central approximately 8 x 6 arcsec (approximately 12 x 9 kpc) region which contains an unusually blue, lobelike structure that is spatially coincident with a luminous emission-line nebula in rotation about the nucleus. Based on near spatial coincidence of the central continuum structure and the emission-line nebula, we suggest that the blue continuum is due to a warm stellar population in a central disk. In order to isolate and study the structure of the disk, we have subtracted a smooth galactic background model from the U-band image. The disk's surface brightness profiles along its major and minor axes decline roughly exponentially with radius. The disk's axial ratio is consistent with a nearly edge-on thick disk or a thin disk that is inclined with respect to the line of sight. The bluest regions, located a few arcsec on either side of the nucleus (giving the lobelike appearance), may be due to locally enhanced star formation or a seeing-blurred ring of young stars embedded in the disk observed nearly edge-on. If star-formation is occurring with the local initial mass function, the central color, surface brightness, and dynamical mass would be consistent with models for star formation at a rate of less than and approximately 1 solar masses/yr which has persisted for the past approximately 10(exp 9) yr, a short burst (10(exp 7) yr) of star formation at a rate of approximately 30 solar masses/yr which occurred less than and approximately 10(exp 8) yr ago, or an instantaneous burst of star formation which occurred approximately 5 x 10(exp 7) yr ago. While the young population contributes approximately 30%-40% of the central U-band luminosity, its mass would be less than and approximately 1% to less than and approximately 10% (10(exp 8) solar masses - 2 x 10(exp 9) solar masses of the galaxy's central dynamical mass. We consider a number of possible origins for the disk material.