The mass-angular momentum density relation for spiral galaxies
Abstract
A relation between optical luminosity and angular momentum density for spiral galaxies is found. It is interpreted as a relationship between mass and angular momentum density and is compared with theoretical predictions from galaxy formation models. It is shown that the scatter in the relation is mainly due to the effect of different values of the mean surface brightness (and hence of the mean surface density) of the galaxies. Finally, it is shown that no evidence can be found that shows that the sequence of morphological types (at least from Sbc to later types) is a sequence of angular momentum density.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- October 1980
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/193.2.269
- Bibcode:
- 1980MNRAS.193..269V
- Keywords:
-
- Angular Momentum;
- Galactic Evolution;
- Galactic Structure;
- Spiral Galaxies;
- Brightness;
- Mass Distribution;
- Stellar Gravitation;
- Stellar Luminosity;
- Astrophysics