Central Mass Concentration and Bar Dissolution in Nearby Spiral Galaxies

2002/08/26 by Mousumi Das, Peter J. Teuben, Stuart N. Vogel +4
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Bar (unit) #Bulge #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Galaxy rotation curve #RADIUS #Spiral (railway) #Spiral galaxy #astro-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/344480

published as Astrophys.J. 582 (2003) 190-195 · 10 pages, 2 figures and 2 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

arxiv created 2002/08/26 · openalex publication_date 2003/01/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We use data from the BIMA Survey of Nearby Galaxies (SONG) to investigate the relationship between ellipticity and central mass concentration in barred spirals. Existing simulations predict that bar ellipticity decreases as inflowing mass driven by the bar accumulates in the central regions, ultimately destroying the bar. Using the ratio of the bulge mass to the mass within the bar radius as an estimate of the central mass concentration, we obtain dynamical mass estimates from SONG CO 1-0 rotation curve data. We find an inverse correlation between bar ellipticity and central mass concentration, consistent with simulations of bar dissolution.

Citations

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