Stellar populations in bulges of spiral galaxies

We present line strengths in the bulges and inner discs of 38 galaxies in the local Universe, including several galaxies whose bulges were previously identified as being disc like in their colours or kinematics, to see if their spectral properties reveal evidence for secular evolution. We find that red bulges of all Hubble types are similar to luminous ellipticals in their central stellar populations. They have large luminosity-weighted ages, metallicities, and α/Fe ratios. Blue bulges can be separated into a metal-poor class that is restricted to late types with small velocity dispersion and a young, metal-rich class that includes all Hubble types and velocity dispersions. Luminosity-weighted metallicities and α/Fe ratios are sensitive to central velocity dispersion and maximum disc rotational velocity. Red bulges and ellipticals follow the same scaling relations. We see differences in some scaling relations between blue and red bulges and between bulges of barred and unbarred galaxies. Most bulges have decreasing metallicity with increasing radius; galaxies with larger central metallicities have steeper gradients. Where positive age gradients (with the central regions being younger) are present, they are invariably in barred galaxies. The metallicities of bulges are correlated with those of their discs. While this and the differences between barred and unbarred galaxies suggest that secular evolution cannot be ignored, our results are generally consistent with the hypothesis that mergers have been the dominant mechanism responsible for bulge formation.

Based on observations obtained with the Apache Point Observatory 3.5-m telescope, which is owned and operated by the Astrophysical Research Consortium.

E-mail: bmoorthy@nmsu.edu