Author ORCID Identifier
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-16-2015
Abstract
We estimate the stellar masses of disk galaxies with two independent methods: a photometrically self-consistent color?mass-to-light ratio relation (CMLR) from population synthesis models, and the baryonic Tully?Fisher relation (BTFR) calibrated by gas-rich galaxies. These two methods give consistent results. The CMLR correctly converts distinct Tully?Fisher relations in different bands into the same BTFR. The BTFR is consistent with Mb ∝ Vf4 over nearly six decades in mass, with no hint of a change in slope over that range. The intrinsic scatter in the BTFR is negligible, implying that the IMF of disk galaxies is effectively universal. The gas-rich BTFR suggests an absolute calibration of the stellar mass scale that yields nearly constant mass-to-light ratios in the near-infrared (NIR): 0.57 M⊙/ L⊙ in Ks and 0.45 M⊙/ L⊙ at 3.6 μm. There is only modest intrinsic scatter (∼0.12 dex) about these typical values. There is no discernible variation with color or other properties: the NIR luminosity is a good tracer of stellar mass.
Keywords
galaxies: evolution, galaxies: fundamental parameters, galaxies: kinematics and dynamics, galaxies: photometry, galaxies: stellar content
Language
English
Publication Title
Astrophysical Journal
Rights
© The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. This content is free to access, download, and share. For all other uses, you must obtain permission to reuse content: https://journals.aas.org/article-charges-and-copyright/#AAS_material
Recommended Citation
Stacy S. McGaugh and James M. Schombert 2015. Weighing Galaxy Disks with the Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation. ApJ 802 18
Manuscript Version
Final Publisher Version