Bulge evolution in face-on spiral and low surface brightness galaxies
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Date
2006
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Abstract
It is an observational fact that bulges of spiral galaxies contain a high fraction
of old and metal-rich stars. Following this observational fact, we have investigated colors of 21 bulges hosted by a selected sample of high surface brightness
spirals and low surface brightness galaxies observed in B and R optical bands
and in J and Ks near-IR bands. Using structural parameters derived from these
observations we obtain evidence that bulges could be formed by pure disk evolution (secular evolution), in agreement with the suggestion by some authors. The
color profiles, especially the near-IR ones show null or almost null color gradients, supporting the hypothesis that the disk stellar populations are similar to
those present in the bulge, and/or some bulges can be understood as disks with
enhanced stellar density (or pseudobulges). In the optical, half of the galaxies
present an inverse color gradient, giving additional evidence in favor of secular
evolution for the sample investigated. The comparison of the observed colors
with those obtained from spectrophotometric models of galaxy evolution suggests that bulges of the selected sample have solar and subsolar metallicity, and
are independent of the current stellar formation rate. Also, we obtain evidence
suggesting that galaxies hosting small bulges tend to be systematically metal
poor compared to those with larger bulges. These results are being checked more
carefully with high S/N spectroscopy.