Discovery of Super-Thin Disks in Nearby Edge-on Spiral Galaxies

TL;DR

This study identifies a super-thin disk in the galaxy NGC 891 using advanced attenuation correction techniques, revealing structural features that could be common in spiral galaxies.

Contribution

The paper introduces a method combining radiation transfer models and near-infrared imaging to detect super-thin disks in edge-on spiral galaxies.

Findings

Discovery of a super-thin disk (~60 pc) in NGC 891.

Identification of an inner disk truncation at ~3 kpc.

Method demonstrated for application to other galaxies.

Abstract

We report the identification of a super-thin disk (h_z~60 pc) in the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 891. This component is only apparent after we perform a physically motivated attenuation correction, based on detailed radiation transfer models, to our sub-arcsecond resolution near-infrared imaging. In addition to the super-thin disk, we are also find several structural features near the center of NGC 891, including an inner disk truncation at ~3 kpc. Inner disk truncations may be commonplace among massive spiral galaxies, possibly due to the effects of instabilities, such as bars. Having successfully demonstrated our methods, we are poised to apply them to a small sample of nearby edge-on galaxies, consisting both of massive and low-mass spirals.