The onset of warps in Spitzer observations of edge-on spiral galaxies
Kanak Saha, Roelof de Jong, Benne Holwerda

TL;DR
This study investigates the onset and asymmetry of warps in edge-on spiral galaxies using Spitzer observations, comparing observed warp onset radii with theoretical models to understand the influence of dark matter and disc structure.
Contribution
It introduces a new analysis of warp onset asymmetry and its relation to dark matter distribution and disc properties in edge-on spiral galaxies.
Findings
Warps are present in 14 out of 24 galaxies studied.
Moderately flaring discs are needed to match observed warp onset radii.
Warp onset asymmetry tends to be larger in galaxies with smaller disc scale lengths.
Abstract
We analyze warps in the nearby edge-on spiral galaxies observed in the {\em Spitzer/IRAC} 4.5 micron band. In our sample of 24 galaxies we find evidence of warp in 14 galaxies. We estimate the observed onset radii for the warps in a subsample of 10 galaxies. The dark matter distribution in each of these galaxies are calculated using the mass distribution derived from the observed light distribution and the observed rotation curves. The theoretical predictions of the onset radii for the warps are then derived by applying a self-consistent linear response theory to the obtained mass models for 6 galaxies with rotation curves in the literature. By comparing the observed onset radii to the theoretical ones, we find that discs with constant thickness can not explain the observations; moderately flaring discs are needed. The required flaring is consistent with the observations. Our analysis…
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