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arXiv · 0902.0566

Evolution of the Stellar Mass Tully-Fisher Relation in Disk Galaxy Merger Simulations

Abstract

There is a large observational scatter toward low velocities in the stellar mass Tully-Fisher relation if disturbed and compact objects are included. However, this scatter can be eliminated if one replaces rotation velocity with $\rm S_{\rm 0.5}$, a quantity that includes a velocity dispersion term added in quadrature with the rotation velocity. In this work we use a large suite of hydrodynamic N-body galaxy merger simulations to explore a possible mechanism for creating the observed relations. Using mock observations of the simulations, we test for the presence of observational effects and explore the relationship between $\rm S_{\rm 0.5}$ and intrinsic properties of the galaxies. We find that galaxy mergers can explain the scatter in the TF as well as the tight $\rm S_{\rm 0.5}$-stellar mass relation. Furthermore, $\rm S_{\rm 0.5}$ is correlated with the total central mass of a galaxy, including contributions due to dark matter.

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M. D. Covington, S. A. Kassin, A. A. Dutton, B. J. Weiner, T. J. Cox, P. Jonsson, J. R. Primack, S. M. Faber, D. C. Koo. 2009-12-03. Evolution of the Stellar Mass Tully-Fisher Relation in Disk Galaxy Merger Simulations. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x%2F710%2F1%2F279

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