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The Structure of the Outer Galactic Disc as revealed by IPHAS early A Stars
- Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- This study is an investigation of the stellar density profile of the Galactic disc in the Anticentre direction. We select over 40,000 early A stars from IPHAS photometry in the Galactic longitude range 160 < l < 200 close to the equatorial plane (-1 < b < +1). We then compare their observed reddening-corrected apparent magnitude distribution with simulated photometry obtained from parameterised models in order to set constraints on the Anticentre stellar density profile. By selecting A stars, we are appraising the properties of a population only ~100 Myrs old. We find the stellar density profile of young stars is well fit to an exponential with length scale of (3020 \pm 120_{statistical} \pm 180_{systematic}) pc, which is comparable to that obtained in earlier studies, out to a Galactocentric radius of R_T = (13.0 \pm 0.5_{statistical} \pm 0.6_{systematic}) kpc. At larger radii the rate of decline appears to increase with the scale length dropping to (1200 \pm 300_{statistical} \pm 70_{systematic}) pc. This result amounts to a refinement of the conclusions reached in previous studies that the stellar density profile is abruptly truncated. The IPHAS A star data are not compatible with models that propose a sudden change in metallicity at R_G = 10 kpc.<br />Comment: 11 pages, accepted for publication in MNRAS
- Subjects :
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.0909.3857
- Document Type :
- Working Paper
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15746.x