Scale Length of Disk Galaxies

TL;DR

This study analyzes the scale lengths of over 54,000 spiral galaxies across multiple optical bands to understand how these lengths vary with galaxy properties and observational parameters, shedding light on galaxy structure.

Contribution

It provides a large-scale analysis of spiral galaxy scale lengths across multiple bands, considering effects of inclination, type, redshift, and brightness for the first time at this scale.

Findings

Scale length varies with waveband, inclination, and galaxy type.

Derived scale lengths depend on observational and intrinsic galaxy properties.

The study offers insights into the structure and stellar populations of spiral galaxies.

Abstract

As a part of a Euro-VO research initiative, we have undertaken a programme aimed at studying the scale length of 54909 Sa-Sd spiral galaxies from the SDSS DR6 catalogue. We have retrieved u,g,r,i,z-band images for all galaxies in order to derive the light profiles. We also calculate asymmetry parameters to select non-disturbed disks for which we will derive exponential disk scale lengths. As images in different bands probe different optical depths and stellar populations, it is likely that a derived scale length value should depend on waveband, and our goal is to use the scale length variations with band pass, inclination, galaxy type, redshift, and surface brightness, in order to better understand the nature of spiral galaxies.