Bibcode
Méndez-Abreu, J.; Debattista, V. P.; Corsini, E. M.; Aguerri, J. A. L.
Referencia bibliográfica
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 572, id.A25, 16 pp.
Fecha de publicación:
12
2014
Revista
Número de citas
93
Número de citas referidas
88
Descripción
Context. Historically, galaxy bulges were thought to be single-component
objects at the center of galaxies. However, this picture is now
questioned since different bulge types with different formation paths,
namely classical and pseudobulges, have been found coexisting within the
same galaxy. Aims: We study the incidence and nature of composite
bulges in a sample of 10 face-on barred galaxies to constrain the
formation and evolutionary processes of the central regions of disk
galaxies. Methods: We analyze the morphological, photometric, and
kinematic properties of each bulge. Then, by using a case-by-case
analysis we identify composite bulges and classify every component into
a classical or pseudobulge. In addition, bar-related boxy/peanut (B/P)
structures were also identified and characterized. Results: We
find only three galaxies hosting a single-component bulge (two
pseudobulges and one classical bulge). Thus, we demonstrate the high
incidence of composite bulges (70%) in barred galaxies. We find evidence
of composite bulges coming in two main types based on their formation:
secular-built and merger- and secular-built. We denote as secular-built
those composite bulges that are made up of structures associated with
secular processes, such as pseudobulges, central disks, or B/P bulges.
We find four composite bulges of this kind in our sample. On the other
hand, merger- and secular-built bulges are those where structures with
different formation paths coexist within the same galaxy, i.e., a
classical bulge coexisting with a secular-built structure (pseudobulge,
central disk, or B/P). Three bulges of this kind were found in the
sample. We notice the importance of detecting kinematic structures such
as σ-drops to identify composite bulges. A high percentage (~80%)
of galaxies were found to host σ-drops or σ-plateaus in our
sample, revealing their high incidence in barred galaxies.
Conclusions: The high frequency of composite bulges in barred galaxies
points toward a complex formation and evolutionary scenario. Moreover,
the evidence of coexisting merger- and secular-built bulges reinforce
this idea. We discuss how the presence of different bulge types with
different formation histories and timescales can constrain current
models of bulge formation.
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