Template Rotation Curves for Disk Galaxies

Abstract

A homogeneous sample of ~2200 low redshift disk galaxies with both high sensitivity long-slit optical spectroscopy and detailed I-band photometry is used to construct average, or template, rotation curves in separate luminosity classes, spanning 6 magnitudes in I-band luminosity. The template rotation curves are expressed as functions both of exponential disk scale lengths r_d and of optical radii Ropt, and extend out to 4.5-6.5 r_d, depending on the luminosity bin. The two parameterizations yield slightly different results beyond Ropt because galaxies whose Halpha emission can be traced to larger extents in the disks are typically of higher optical surface brightness and are characterized by larger values of Ropt/r_d. By either parameterization, these template rotation curves show no convincing evidence of velocity decline within the spatial scales over which they are sampled, even in the case of the most luminous systems. In contrast to some previous expectations, the fastest rotators (most luminous galaxies) have, on average, rotation curves that are flat or mildly rising beyond the optical radius, implying that the dark matter halo makes an important contribution to the kinematics also in these systems. The template rotation curves and the derived functional fits provide quantitative constraints for studies of the structure and evolution of disk galaxies, which aim at reproducing the internal kinematics properties of disks at the present cosmological epoch.