Intrinsic Properties of Low-z SDSS Galaxies

TL;DR

This paper investigates methods to statistically recover the intrinsic, viewing-angle-independent properties of low-redshift SDSS galaxies, aiming to better understand galaxy populations without inclination biases.

Contribution

It introduces a statistical approach to correct observed galaxy properties for inclination effects, enabling more accurate analysis of intrinsic galaxy characteristics.

Findings

Intrinsic properties can be statistically recovered from observed data.

Correcting for inclination effects alters the perceived galaxy population.

Method improves understanding of galaxy properties independent of viewing angle.

Abstract

Galaxies are seen from different viewing angles and their observed properties change as a function of viewing angle. In many circumstances we would rather know the intrinsic properties of galaxies - those properties that do not depend on viewing angle. For a large sample of galaxies it is possible to recover the intrinsic properties of galaxies, statistically, by looking for correlations with galaxy inclination, and then applying a correction to remove those dependencies. Studying the intrinsic properties of galaxies can give a different impression of the galaxy population and help avoid the mistake of connecting observed properties to quantities that don't depend on inclination like halo mass.