Boxy/Peanut bulges and stellar bars

TL;DR

This paper investigates the properties of boxy/peanut bulges and stellar bars in disc galaxies through N-body simulations, aiming to understand their correlations and improve observational analysis methods.

Contribution

It introduces and compares multiple methods for measuring bulge and bar properties, enhancing analysis techniques applicable to both simulations and observations.

Findings

Identifies correlations between bar and peanut bulge properties.

Develops methods applicable to both simulated and real galaxy data.

Provides insights into the structure and asymmetry of bulges and bars.

Abstract

Boxy/peanut bulges in disc galaxies have been associated to stellar bars. We analyse their properties in a large sample of $N$-body simulations, using different methods to measure their strength, shape and possible asymmetry, and then inter-compare the results. Some of these methods can be applied to both simulations and observations. In particular, we seek correlations between bar and peanut properties, which, when applied to real galaxies, will give information on bars in edge-on galaxies, and on peanuts in face-on galaxies.