Probing the Dark Matter Halos of LSB Galaxies with Integral Field Spectroscopy
Rachel Kuzio de Naray (UC Irvine)
Because low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies are thought to be dark matter-dominated down to small radii, they are often considered ideal targets for probing the density distribution of galaxy mass dark matter halos. We observe a sample of LSB galaxies to explore whether the data are consistent with the cuspy NFW halos predicted by numerical simulations or better described by cored isothermal halos. I will present high-resolution Halpha velocity fields, along with derived rotation curves, of LSB galaxies observed with the DensePak IFU. These observations target the innermost regions of the galaxies where the cusp-core conflict is most severe. I will discuss the observed velocity fields, rotation curve shapes, and measured halo central densities. I will also discuss modeling the cuspy NFW potential to determine if, and under what conditions, the NFW halo appears consistent with the DensePak observations.
contact: J. Rigby
Rachel Kuzio de Naray (UC Irvine)
Because low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies are thought to be dark matter-dominated down to small radii, they are often considered ideal targets for probing the density distribution of galaxy mass dark matter halos. We observe a sample of LSB galaxies to explore whether the data are consistent with the cuspy NFW halos predicted by numerical simulations or better described by cored isothermal halos. I will present high-resolution Halpha velocity fields, along with derived rotation curves, of LSB galaxies observed with the DensePak IFU. These observations target the innermost regions of the galaxies where the cusp-core conflict is most severe. I will discuss the observed velocity fields, rotation curve shapes, and measured halo central densities. I will also discuss modeling the cuspy NFW potential to determine if, and under what conditions, the NFW halo appears consistent with the DensePak observations.
contact: J. Rigby