paper

The role of star formation in the Tully-Fisher law

arXiv:astro-ph/9901016 · doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02448.x

Abstract

We investigate the influence of the star formation rate on the Tully-Fisher relation. We find that a simple model which combines the empirically-determined star-formation rate with the expected properties of galaxy halos provides a remarkably good fit to the absolute magnitude-rotation speed correlation. We find that the power-law nature, its slope, normalisation and scatter, are all readily accounted for if the Universe has a low density parameter, with or without a cosmological constant and disks are assembled at . Moreover, this agreement is found simultaneously in 4 wavebands. An Einstein-de Sitter Universe produces disks which are too faint unless the disks are assembled at . The scatter in the relation is due to a combination of the expected range of spin parameters of the halos and the range of formation redshifts. The source of the scatter opens up possibilities of a better galaxy distance indicator, if spectroscopic observations of globular clusters can be used to determine the halo rotation.

arXiv commentMNRAS in press

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