Spiral Structure Based Limits on the Disk Mass of the Low Surface Brightness Galaxies UGC 6614 and F568-6
/ Authors
/ Abstract
Upper limits for the disk mass-to-light ratios for the low surface brightness galaxies UGC 6614 and F568-6 (Malin 2) are estimated by considering the minimum velocity perturbations in the HI velocity field that should result from the spiral structure observed in the R band images. The weak observed response in the $\phi$ velocity component limits the mass-to-light ratios of the disk within a scale length to M/L ~ 1 is required in both galaxies in the outer regions. These lower limits imply that the stellar surface density is at least of the same order as the gas surface density. This is consistent with the large scale morphology of the spiral structure, and the stability of the gas disk, both which suggest that a moderate stellar component is required to produce the observed spiral structure. (Shortened abstract)
Journal: The Astronomical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/118419