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Mass Distribution in Stellar Structures of Local Dwarfs
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 October 2019
Abstract
We study the distribution of mid-infrared light in stellar structures in a large sample (∽ 400) of low-mass (Mstellar <109 MSun) galaxies. Our sample is selected from the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structures in Galaxies (S4G), which entails deep imaging of nearby galaxies with the IRAC instrument at 3.6/4.5 μ m. Based on the 2D decomposition of the 3.6μ m images, we find that the majority (∽65%) of galaxies in our sample is well-fit by a single disk profile. The rest of the sample is more adequately fit by a disk and an additional component (e.g., bar, nucleus, bulge, second disk component). Bars are present in ∽11% of the sample, marking a sharp drop in the bar fraction compared to that found for more massive galaxies. The typical contribution of bars to the 3.6 μ m light in dwarfs is ∽1-2%, lower than that found in more massive galaxies. These results bring a number of issues into question: why do low-mass galaxies have such low bar fraction? does the bar instability act differently in low-mass galaxies such that a smaller proportion of stellar mass is typically involved in the bar structure? Is the fact that dwarfs are more dark matter dominated playing a role?
- Type
- Contributed Papers
- Information
- Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 14 , Symposium S344: Dwarf Galaxies: From the Deep Universe to the Present , August 2018 , pp. 340 - 344
- Copyright
- © International Astronomical Union 2019