The ratio of pattern speeds in double-barred galaxies

TL;DR

This study measures the pattern speeds of both bars in eight double-barred galaxies using high-resolution velocity fields, revealing that the inner bar rotates significantly faster than the outer bar, with a ratio of about 3.3 to 3.6.

Contribution

First direct measurement of both pattern speeds in double-barred galaxies using phase reversal technique with high-resolution velocity data.

Findings

Inner bars rotate 3.3 to 3.6 times faster than outer bars.

High-resolution velocity fields enable precise corotation radius determination.

Few prior measurements of pattern speeds in double-barred galaxies exist.

Abstract

We have obtained two-dimensional velocity fields in the ionized gas of a set of 8 double-barred galaxies, at high spatial and spectral resolution, using their H$\alpha$ emission fields measured with a scanning Fabry-Perot spectrometer. Using the technique by which phase reversals in the non-circular motion indicate a radius of corotation, taking advantage of the high angular and velocity resolution we have obtained the corotation radii and the pattern speeds of both the major bar and the small central bar in each of the galaxies; there are few such measurements in the literature. Our results show that the inner bar rotates more rapidly than the outer bar by a factor between 3.3 and 3.6.