2004/04/21 by M. Kregel, P. Kruit, P. C. van der Kruit +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.07864.x
published as Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 351 (2004) 1247 · Accepted for publication by Mon. Not. R.A.S
arxiv created 2004/04/21 · openalex publication_date 2004/07/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We present deep optical long-slit spectra of 17 edge-on spiral galaxies of intermediate to late morphological type, mostly parallel to their major axes and in a few cases parallel to the minor axes. The line-of-sight stellar kinematics are obtained from the stellar absorption lines using the improved cross-correlation technique. In general, the stellar kinematics are regular and can be traced well into the disc-dominated region. The mean stellar velocity curves are far from solid-body, indicating that the effect of dust extinction is not large. The line-of-sight stellar disc velocity dispersion correlates with the galaxy maximum rotational velocity, but detailed modelling is necessary to establish whether this represents a physical relation. In four spirals with a boxy- or peanut-shaped bulge we are able to detect asymmetric velocity distributions, having a common signature with projected radius in the mean line-of-sight velocity and the h3 and h4 curves. In two cases this kinematic asymmetry probably represents the ‘figure-of-eight’ pattern synonymous with a barred potential. We emphasize, however, that the signatures seen in the h3 and h4 curves may also be due to the disc seen in projection.