Asymmetry of Resolved Galaxy Properties

To analyze spectroscopic images of galaxies, astronomers often assume galaxies are azimuthally symmetric and compress that information into a radial profile. However, it has not been tested whether different spectroscopically derived properties adhere to this axisymmetric assumption. In particular, recent studies have found that star-formation and gas metal content in galaxies is not always symmetric about the galaxy’s center, particularly for galaxies undergoing a close interaction with another galaxy of a similar size. We endeavor to measure the asymmetry of galaxies in the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) spectroscopic imaging survey. From this sample we will verify whether or not the majority of galaxy properties in such surveys can be considered axisymmetric, and identify the cases where asymmetry is large enough to caution against employing radial profiles. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Sara Ellison

Student:

Partner:

University of Cambridge

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Victoria

Program: