2011ApJ...739L..47B -
Astrophys. J., 739, L47 (2011/October-1)
Galaxy disks are submaximal.
BERSHADY M.A., MARTINSSON T.P.K., VERHEIJEN M.A.W., WESTFALL K.B., ANDERSEN D.R. and SWATERS R.A.
Abstract (from CDS):
We measure the contribution of galaxy disks to the overall gravitational potential of 30 nearly face-on intermediate-to-late-type spirals from the DiskMass Survey. The central vertical velocity dispersion of the disk stars (σdisk_z, R = 0_) is related to the maximum rotation speed (Vmax) as σdisk_z, R = 0_∼ 0.26Vmax, consistent with previous measurements for edge-on disk galaxies and a mean stellar velocity ellipsoid axial ratio α ≡ σz/σR= 0.6. For reasonable values of disk oblateness, this relation implies these galaxy disks are submaximal. We find disks in our sample contribute only 15%-30% of the dynamical mass within 2.2 disk scale lengths (hR), with percentages increasing systematically with luminosity, rotation speed, and redder color. These trends indicate that the mass ratio of disk-to-total matter remains at or below 50% at 2.2 hR even for the most extreme, fast-rotating disks (Vmax ≥ 300 km/s) of the reddest rest frame, face-on color (B - K ∼ 4 mag), and highest luminosity (MK< -26.5 mag). Therefore, spiral disks in general should be submaximal. Our results imply that the stellar mass-to-light ratio and hence the accounting of baryons in stars should be lowered by at least a factor of three.
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Journal keyword(s):
galaxies: formation - galaxies: fundamental parameters - galaxies: halos - galaxies: kinematics and dynamics - galaxies: spiral - galaxies: stellar content
Simbad objects:
3
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