Geometrical parametrization of warps for edge-on galaxies

Abstract

We propose new parameters to describe the geometry of a warped disc when viewed edge-on, a global warp parameter $w$, and a family of three parameters $A$, $B$ and $C$ that describe, independently, the shape of the warp. These parameters are useful to detect some key effects in the understanding of warps. We have also developed software (WIG) which is able to calculate these parameters for a given image of a galaxy in any wavelength and which is described here with some examples, namely ESO 235-53 in the optical, NGC 4013 in 21 cm and NGC 4565 in 1.2 mm continuum.

12 pages, LaTeX using kluwer macros. 4 figures. Also available at http://deneb.ugr.es/workeng.html

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Astrophysical Tests of Modified Gravity: the Morphology and Kinematics of Dwarf Galaxies
• A catalog of warps in spiral and lenticular galaxies in the Southern hemisphere
• Statistics of galaxy warps in the HDF North and South
• The onset of warps in Spitzer observations of edge-on spiral galaxies
• Fifth force constraints from galaxy warps
• On the generation of asymmetric warps in disk galaxies
• Near-infrared and optical observations of galactic warps: A common, unexplained feature of most discs