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The Structure and Stellar Content of the Outer Disks of Galaxies: A New View from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey

Zheng, Z.; Thilker, D.A.; Heckman, T.M.; Meurer, G.R.; Burgett, W.S.; Chambers, K.C.; Huber, M.E.; Kaiser, N.; Magnier, E.A.; Metcalfe, N.; Price, P.A.; Tonry, J.L.; Wainscoat, R.J.; Waters, C.

The Structure and Stellar Content of the Outer Disks of Galaxies: A New View from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey Thumbnail


Authors

Z. Zheng

D.A. Thilker

T.M. Heckman

G.R. Meurer

W.S. Burgett

K.C. Chambers

M.E. Huber

N. Kaiser

E.A. Magnier

P.A. Price

J.L. Tonry

R.J. Wainscoat

C. Waters



Abstract

We present the results of an analysis of Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey multi-band (grizy) images of a sample of 698 low-redshift disk galaxies that span broad ranges in stellar mass, star-formation rate, and bulge/disk ratio. We use population synthesis spectral energy distribution fitting techniques to explore the radial distribution of the light, color, surface mass density, mass/light ratio, and age of the stellar populations. We characterize the structure and stellar content of the galaxy disks out to radii of about twice Petrosian r 90, beyond which the halo light becomes significant. We measure normalized radial profiles for sub-samples of galaxies in three bins each of stellar mass and concentration. We also fit radial profiles to each galaxy. The majority of galaxies have down-bending radial surface brightness profiles in the bluer bands with a break radius at roughly r 90. However, they typically show single unbroken exponentials in the reddest bands and in the stellar surface mass density. We find that the mass/light ratio and stellar age radial profiles have a characteristic "U" shape. There is a good correlation between the amplitude of the down-bend in the surface brightness profile and the rate of the increase in the M/L ratio in the outer disk. As we move from late- to early-type galaxies, the amplitude of the down-bend and the radial gradient in M/L both decrease. Our results imply a combination of stellar radial migration and suppression of recent star formation can account for the stellar populations of the outer disk.

Citation

Zheng, Z., Thilker, D., Heckman, T., Meurer, G., Burgett, W., Chambers, K., …Waters, C. (2015). The Structure and Stellar Content of the Outer Disks of Galaxies: A New View from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey. Astrophysical Journal, 800(2), https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/800/2/120

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 7, 2014
Publication Date Feb 20, 2015
Deposit Date Jun 16, 2015
Publicly Available Date Jul 1, 2015
Journal Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-637X
Electronic ISSN 1538-4357
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 800
Issue 2
DOI https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/800/2/120

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Copyright Statement
© 2015. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.





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