Are ultra-diffuse galaxies structurally similar to low-surface-brightness galaxies?

The mass–concentration relation from dark matter simulations (blue line), and from hydrodynamical simulations of galaxies (open and solid circles). The red square and triangle show galaxy AGC242019 for a cuspy halo fit and for our shallow fit used in this work. Our results agree with theoretical expectations.
The mass–concentration relation from dark matter simulations (blue) and from hydrodynamical simulations of galaxies (open/solid circles). The red square and triangle show galaxy AGC242019 for a cuspy halo fit and for our shallow fit.
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Authors
A. V. Macciò
NYU Abu Dhabi
M. Blank
NYU Abu Dhabi
References
2021 ApJ 919 L1

A central question regarding ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) is whether they are in a separate category from low-surface-brightness (LSB) galaxies, or just their natural continuation toward low stellar masses. In this Letter, we show that the rotation curve of the gas rich UDG AGC 242019 is well fit by a dark matter halo with an inner slope that asymptotes to ~-0.54, and that such a fit provides a concentration parameter that matches theoretical expectations. This finding, together with previous works in which shallow inner profiles are derived for UDGs, shows that the structural properties of these galaxies are like other observed LSBs. UDGs show slowly rising rotation curves and this favors formation scenarios in which internal processes, such as supernova-driven gas outflows, are acting to modify UDG profiles.

News type
Research news
Scope
Science and Technology
Astrophysics
General public
Undergraduate
Scientists
Formation & Evolution of Galaxies (FYEG)

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