The Behavior of the Pitch Angle of Spiral Arms Depending on Optical Wavelength
Abstract
Based on integral field spectroscopy data from the CALIFA survey, we investigate the possible dependence of spiral arm pitch angle with optical wavelength. For three of the five studied objects, the pitch angle gradually increases at longer wavelengths. This is not the case for two objects where the pitch angle remains constant. This result is confirmed by the analysis of SDSS data. We discuss the possible physical mechanisms to explain this phenomenon, as well as the implications of the results.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- September 2014
- DOI:
- 10.1088/2041-8205/793/1/L19
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1408.5132
- Bibcode:
- 2014ApJ...793L..19M
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: fundamental parameters;
- galaxies: spiral;
- galaxies: structure;
- methods: numerical;
- methods: observational;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- accepted for publication in ApJ Letters