NGC 3521: Stellar counter-rotation induced by a bar component

Author(s)
Werner Zeilinger, Juan Carlos Vega Beltran, Maite Rozas, John E. Beckman, Alessandro Pizzella, Enrico Maria Corsini, Francesco Bertola
Abstract

The spiral galaxy NGC 3521 exhibits apparently normal kinematic properties of gas and stars along its major axis. However, the analysis of the LOSVD reveals strong asymmetries. A decomposition of the LOSVD data with a two-Gaussian component model shows two counter-rotating stellar components. The observed kinematic decoupling is interpreted as a projection effect induced by the presence of a bar component seen almost end on. The bar produces locally a greater concentration of retrograde stellar orbits but this does not relate to a specific counter-rotating population. The signatures of the bar are identified in the velocity field derived from long-slit spectra obtained along the major, minor and 45° intermediate axes and from R-band surface photometry.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, University of Padova
Journal
Astrophysics and Space Science
Volume
276
Pages
643-650
No. of pages
8
ISSN
0004-640X
Publication date
2001
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/ngc-3521-stellar-counterrotation-induced-by-a-bar-component(6493b956-47ef-4412-84af-89386fa302c9).html