The Origin of the Hubble Sequence for Spiral Galaxies

Abstract

We suggest that the bulge-to-disc ratios of spiral galaxies are primarily determined by the angular momenta of their host haloes predicted in current hierarchical clustering models for structure formation. Gas with low specific angular momentum becomes self-gravitating and presumably forms stars before it can settle into a rotationally supported disc. We assume this part of the gas in a dark halo to form a bulge, while the rest is assumed to settle into a rotationally supported disc. With these assumptions the predicted bulge-to-disc ratios in mass and in size, and other correlations between the bulge and disc components can match current observational results. This model predicts the existence of a population of low-surface-brightness galaxies which are bulgeless. The model also predicts that the bulge component has many properties in common with the disc component, because both form through similar processes. In particular, many bulges should be supported (at least partially) by rotation.