Properties of barred galaxies in the MaNGA galaxy survey

TL;DR

This study analyzes 684 barred galaxies from the MaNGA survey, revealing how bar properties relate to galaxy mass, star formation activity, and gas distribution, indicating different formation processes across galaxy types.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis linking bar characteristics to galaxy properties, highlighting differences between low- and high-mass galaxy bars for the first time.

Findings

Bar length correlates with galaxy passivity and size.

Ionised gas is present along bars only in low-mass, star-forming galaxies.

High-mass galaxies lack Hα along bars but show rings or central Hα emission.

Abstract

We present the initial results of a census of 684 barred galaxies in the MaNGA galaxy survey. This large sample contains galaxies with a wide range of physical properties, and we attempt to link bar properties to key observables for the whole galaxy. We find the length of the bar, when normalised for galaxy size, is correlated with the distance of the galaxy from the star formation main sequence, with more passive galaxies hosting larger-scale bars. Ionised gas is observed along the bars of low-mass galaxies only, and these galaxies are generally star-forming and host short bars. Higher-mass galaxies do not contain H{\alpha} emission along their bars, however, but are more likely to host rings or H{\alpha} at the centre and ends of the bar. Our results suggest that different physical processes are at play in the formation and evolution of bars in low- and high-mass galaxies.