3,007 research outputs found
On the estimation of galaxy structural parameters: the Sersic Model
This paper addresses some questions which have arisen from the use of the
S\'ersic r^{1/n} law in modelling the luminosity profiles of early type
galaxies. The first issue deals with the trend between the half-light radius
and the structural parameter n. We show that the correlation between these two
parameters is not only real, but is a natural consequence from the previous
relations found to exist between the model-independent parameters: total
luminosity, effective radius and effective surface brightness. We also define a
new galaxy concentration index which is largely independent of the image
exposure depth, and monotonically related with n. The second question concerns
the curious coincidence between the form of the Fundamental Plane and the
coupling between _e and r_e when modelling a light profile. We explain,
through a mathematical analysis of the S\'ersic law, why the quantity
r_e_e^{0.7} appears almost constant for an individual galaxy, regardless of
the value of n (over a large range) adopted in the fit to the light profile.
Consequently, Fundamental Planes of the form r_e_e^{0.7} propto sigma_0^x
(for any x, and where sigma_0 is the central galaxy velocity dispersion) are
insensitive to galaxy structure. Finally, we address the problematic issue of
the use of model-dependent galaxy light profile parameters versus
model-independent quantities for the half-light radii, mean surface brightness
and total galaxy magnitude. The former implicitly assume that the light profile
model can be extrapolated to infinity, while the latter quantities, in general,
are derived from a signal-to-noise truncated profile. We quantify
(mathematically) how these parameters change as one reduces the outer radius of
an r^{1/n} profile, and reveal how these can vary substantially when n>4.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Galaxy Light Concentration. I. Index stability and the connection with galaxy structure, dynamics, and supermassive black holes
We explore the stability of different galaxy light concentration indices as a
function of the outermost observed galaxy radius. With a series of analytical
light-profile models, we show mathematically how varying the radial extent to
which one measures a galaxy's light can strongly affect the derived galaxy
concentration. The "mean concentration index", often used for parameterizing
high-redshift galaxies, is shown to be horribly unstable, even when modeling
one-component systems such as elliptical, dwarf elliptical and pure exponential
disk galaxies. The C_31 concentration index performs considerably better but is
also heavily dependent on the radial extent, and hence exposure depth, of any
given galaxy. We show that the recently defined central concentration index is
remarkably stable against changes to the outer radius, providing a meaningful
and reliable estimate of galaxy concentration. The index n from the r^(1/n)
models is shown to be monotonically related with the central concentration of
light, giving the index n a second and perhaps more tangible meaning. With a
sample of elliptical and dwarf elliptical galaxies, we present correlations
between the central light concentration and the global parameters: luminosity
(Pearson's r = -0.82), effective radius (r = 0.67), central surface brightness
(r = -0.88), and velocity dispersion (r = 0.80). The more massive elliptical
galaxies are shown to be more centrally concentrated. We speculate that the
physical mechanism behind the recently observed correlation between the central
velocity dispersion (mass) of a galaxy and the mass of its central supermassive
black hole may be connected with the central galaxy concentration. That is, we
hypothesize that it may not simply be the amount of mass in a galaxy but rather
how that mass is distributed that controls the mass of the central black hole.Comment: (aastex, 18 pages including 13 figures
F-14 VSTFE and results of the cleanup flight test program
Flight transition data applicable to swept wings at high subsonic speeds are needed to make valid assessments of the potential for natural laminar flow or laminar flow control for transports of various sizes at various cruise speeds. NASA initiated the variable sweep transition flight experiment (VSTFE) to help establish a boundary layer transition data base for use in laminar flow wing design. The carrier vehicle for this experiment is an F-14, which has variable sweep capability. The variable sweep outer panels of the F-14 were modified with natural laminar flow gloves to provide not only smooth surfaces but also airfoils that can produce a wide range of pressure distributions for which transition location can be determined. The VSTFE program is briefly described and some preliminary glove I flight results are presented
A Correlation between Galaxy Light Concentration and Supermassive Black Hole Mass
We present evidence for a strong correlation between the concentration of
bulges and the mass of their central supermassive black hole (M_bh) -- more
concentrated bulges have more massive black holes. Using C_{r_e}(1/3) from
Trujillo, Graham & Caon (2001b) as a measure of bulge concentration, we find
that log (M_bh/M_sun) = 6.81(+/-0.95)C_{r_e}(1/3) + 5.03(+/-0.41). This
correlation is shown to be marginally stronger (Spearman's r_s=0.91) than the
relationship between the logarithm of the stellar velocity dispersion and log
M_bh (Spearman's r_s=0.86), and has comparable, or less, scatter (0.31 dex in
log M_bh), which decreases to 0.19 dex when we use only those galaxies whose
supermassive black hole's radius of influence is resolved and remove one well
understood outlying data point).Comment: 7 pages, 1 table, 2 figures. ApJ Letters, accepte
Observations of solar scattering polarization at high spatial resolution
The weak, turbulent magnetic fields that supposedly permeate most of the
solar photosphere are difficult to observe, because the Zeeman effect is
virtually blind to them. The Hanle effect, acting on the scattering
polarization in suitable lines, can in principle be used as a diagnostic for
these fields. However, the prediction that the majority of the weak, turbulent
field resides in intergranular lanes also poses significant challenges to
scattering polarization observations because high spatial resolution is usually
difficult to attain. We aim to measure the difference in scattering
polarization between granules and intergranules. We present the respective
center-to-limb variations, which may serve as input for future models. We
perform full Stokes filter polarimetry at different solar limb positions with
the CN band filter of the Hinode-SOT Broadband Filter Imager, which represents
the first scattering polarization observations with sufficient spatial
resolution to discern the granulation. Hinode-SOT offers unprecedented spatial
resolution in combination with high polarimetric sensitivity. The CN band is
known to have a significant scattering polarization signal, and is sensitive to
the Hanle effect. We extend the instrumental polarization calibration routine
to the observing wavelength, and correct for various systematic effects. The
scattering polarization for granules (i.e., regions brighter than the median
intensity of non-magnetic pixels) is significantly larger than for
intergranules. We derive that the intergranules (i.e., the remaining
non-magnetic pixels) exhibit (9.8 \pm 3.0)% less scattering polarization for
0.2<u<0.3, although systematic effects cannot be completely excluded. These
observations constrain MHD models in combination with (polarized) radiative
transfer in terms of CN band line formation, radiation anisotropy, and magnetic
fields.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
A Substantial Amount of Hidden Magnetic Energy in the Quiet Sun
Deciphering and understanding the small-scale magnetic activity of the quiet
solar photosphere should help to solve many of the key problems of solar and
stellar physics, such as the magnetic coupling to the outer atmosphere and the
coronal heating. At present, we can see only of the complex
magnetism of the quiet Sun, which highlights the need to develop a reliable way
to investigate the remaining 99%. Here we report three-dimensional radiative
tranfer modelling of scattering polarization in atomic and molecular lines that
indicates the presence of hidden, mixed-polarity fields on subresolution
scales. Combining this modelling with recent observational data we find a
ubiquitous tangled magnetic field with an average strength of G,
which is much stronger in the intergranular regions of solar surface convection
than in the granular regions. So the average magnetic energy density in the
quiet solar photosphere is at least two orders of magnitude greater than that
derived from simplistic one-dimensional investigations, and sufficient to
balance radiative energy losses from the solar chromosphere.Comment: 21 pages and 2 figures (letter published in Nature on July 15, 2004
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