Wavelet Analysis of Galactic Rotation Curves

TL;DR

This paper applies wavelet analysis to the rotation curves of 73 spiral galaxies, revealing large-scale patterns and features that challenge the common interpretation of local wiggles as merger signatures.

Contribution

It introduces a wavelet-based method to analyze galaxy rotation curves, uncovering large-scale modes and patterns not previously emphasized in the literature.

Findings

Detection of large-scale modes in galaxy rotation curves

Identification of regular patterns in spiral galaxy features

Wavelet scaleograms reveal structures beyond local wiggles

Abstract

The spatial wavelet spectra of 73 published spiral galaxies's rotation curves are computed and their associated scaleograms are presented. Scaleograms are used to detect and isolate local features observed in spiral galaxies's rotation curves. Although wiggles and bumps are usually interpreted as signs of recent and on-going merging, the analysis of the scaleograms reveals regular patterns consistent with the presence of large-scale modes throughout the disk.