Kinematic Signatures of Bulges Correlate with Bulge Morphologies and S\'ersic Index

TL;DR

This study links bulge kinematic signatures with their morphologies and Sersic index, confirming that kinematic diagnostics align with photometric classifications and revealing new counter-rotation cases.

Contribution

First demonstration that kinematic diagnostics of bulge types agree with Sersic index and morphology, including detection of counter-rotation in two galaxies.

Findings

Low Sersic bulges show higher rotational support and lower velocity dispersions.

Kinematic and photometric bulge classifications are consistent.

Counter-rotation detected in NGC 3945 and NGC 4736.

Abstract

We use the Marcario Low Resolution Spectrograph (LRS) at the Hobby-Eberly-Telescope (HET) to study the kinematics of pseudobulges and classical bulges in the nearby universe. We present major-axis rotational velocities, velocity dispersions, and h3 and h4 moments derived from high-resolution (sigma ~ 39 km/s) spectra for 45 S0 to Sc galaxies; for 27 of the galaxies we also present minor axis data. We combine our kinematics with bulge-to-disk decompositions. We demonstrate for the first time that purely kinematic diagnostics of the bulge dichotomy agree systematically with those based on S\'ersic index. Low S\'ersic index bulges have both increased rotational support (higher v/sigma values) and on average lower central velocity dispersions. Furthermore, we confirm that the same correlation also holds when visual morphologies are used to diagnose bulge type. The previously noted trend of photometrically flattened bulges to have shallower velocity dispersion profiles turns to be significant and systematic if the S\'ersic index is used to distinguish between pseudobulges and classical bulges. The correlation between h3 and v/sigma observed in elliptical galaxies is also observed in intermediate type galaxies, irrespective of bulge type. Finally, we present evidence for formerly undetected counter rotation in the two systems NGC 3945 and NGC 4736. Based on observations obtained with the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, which is a joint project of the University of Texas at Austin, the Pennsylvania State University, Stanford University, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit\"at M\"unchen, and Georg-August-Universit\"at G\"ottingen.