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Boxy- and Peanut-Shaped Bulges

from Part 4 - Physical Processes in Bulge Formation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2010

By
R. Lütticke  and
R-J. Dettmar
Edited by
C. Marcella Carollo ,
Henry C. Ferguson  and
Rosemary F. G. Wyse
R. Lütticke
Affiliation:
Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
R-J. Dettmar
Affiliation:
Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
C. Marcella Carollo
Affiliation:
Columbia University, New York
Henry C. Ferguson
Affiliation:
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore
Rosemary F. G. Wyse
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University
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Summary

Our new statistical study of bulges of disk galaxies reveals a frequency of almost 50% being boxy-or peanut-shaped. Therefore very common processes are required to explain this high fraction. In an analysis of a possible relation between this internal structure and the environment of galaxies with boxy/peanut-shaped bulge we find that on large scales there is no hint for a connection. However, galaxies with boxy- or peanut-shaped bulges have more companions and satellites and show more frequently interactions than a control sample. Thus we conclude that the small-scale environment is important for the existence of such bulges. The most likely reason responsible for the development of boxy/peanut-shaped bulges is a bar originating from galaxy interaction in stable disks or by an infalling satellite.

Introduction

Boxy- and peanut-shaped (hereafter referred to simply as boxy or b/p) bulges are not really as peculiar as it seemed in the past, and very common processes are required to explain their high frequency. At present several mechanisms for their origin are discussed. Binney & Petrou (1985) and Whitmore & Bell (1988) suggest that these structures result from material accreted from infalling satellite companions (soft merging). An alternative mechanism for forming boxy bulges are instabilities or resonances animated by bars (Combes et al. 1990; Raha et al. 1991). N-body simulations for stars in barred potentials have demonstrated that this theory and observational evidence are consistent (in particular from gas kinematics, e.g. Kuijken & Merrifield 1995).

Type
Chapter
Information
The Formation of Galactic Bulges , pp. 119 - 123
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2000

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  • Boxy- and Peanut-Shaped Bulges
    • By R. Lütticke, Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, R-J. Dettmar, Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
  • Edited by C. Marcella Carollo, Columbia University, New York, Henry C. Ferguson, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Rosemary F. G. Wyse, The Johns Hopkins University
  • Book: The Formation of Galactic Bulges
  • Online publication: 10 November 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511564611.016
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  • Boxy- and Peanut-Shaped Bulges
    • By R. Lütticke, Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, R-J. Dettmar, Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
  • Edited by C. Marcella Carollo, Columbia University, New York, Henry C. Ferguson, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Rosemary F. G. Wyse, The Johns Hopkins University
  • Book: The Formation of Galactic Bulges
  • Online publication: 10 November 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511564611.016
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Boxy- and Peanut-Shaped Bulges
    • By R. Lütticke, Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, R-J. Dettmar, Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
  • Edited by C. Marcella Carollo, Columbia University, New York, Henry C. Ferguson, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Rosemary F. G. Wyse, The Johns Hopkins University
  • Book: The Formation of Galactic Bulges
  • Online publication: 10 November 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511564611.016
Available formats
×