Star formation in grand design and flocculent spiral galaxies
Journal Article
·
· Astrophys. J.; (United States)
We examine the colors and neutral hydrogen contents of spiral galaxies which have been classified in the Elmegreen and Elmegreen arm morphology system. Using these data, we delineate possible differences between the star formation activity in spiral galaxies with and without classic spiral arms. At the same revised Hubble type, spiral galaxies with regular global arm patterns (the grand design spirals) are bluer than spiral galaxies lacking such patterns (the flocculent spirals) by a small, but statistically significant amount (approx.0.05 in B-V and approx.0.15 in U-V). The neutral hydrogen contents of the two groups are roughly similar, implying the star formation rate averaged over a Hubble time has been approximately the same in grand design and flocculent systems. The color differences can be explained either by using an initial mass function in the flocculent spiral galaxies which is deficient in massive stars by a factor of 2 compared with the grand design systems, or by a decrease of approx.30% in the ratio of recent to past star formation rates in flocculent galaxies. We discuss the possibility that systematic Hubble type misclassifications significantly affect these conclusions.
- Research Organization:
- Laboratory for Astronomy and Solar Physics, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5773550
- Journal Information:
- Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 289:2; ISSN ASJOA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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