• DOI:10.1051/0004-6361/201220065
• Corpus ID: 54728023

Stellar mass map and dark matter distribution in M 31

@article{Tamm2012StellarMM,
  title={Stellar mass map and dark matter distribution in M 31},
  author={Antti Tamm and Elmo Tempel and Peeter Tenjes and Olga Tihhonova and Taavi Tuvikene},
  journal={Astronomy and Astrophysics},
  year={2012},
  volume={546}
}

• A. Tamm, E. Tempel, +2 authors T. Tuvikene
• Published 28 August 2012
• Physics
• Astronomy and Astrophysics

Aims. Stellar mass distribution in the Andromeda galaxy (M 31) is estimated using optical and near-infrared imaging data. Combining the derived stellar mass model with various kinematical data, properties of the dark matter (DM) halo of the galaxy are constrained. Methods. SDSS observations through the ugriz filters and the Spitzer imaging at 3.6 microns are used to sample the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the galaxy at each imaging pixel. Intrinsic dust extinction effects are taken into account by using far-infrared observations. Synthetic SEDs created with different stellar population synthesis models are fitted to the observed SEDs, providing estimates for the stellar mass surface density at each pixel. The stellar mass distribution of the galaxy is described with a 3-dimensional model consisting of a nucleus, a bulge, a disc, a young disc and a halo component, each following the Einasto density distribution (relations between different functional forms of the Einasto density distribution are given in Appendix B). By comparing the stellar mass distribution to the observed rotation curve and kinematics of outer globular clusters and satellite galaxies, the DM halo parameters are estimated. Results. Stellar population synthesis models suggest that M 31 is dominated by old (>7 Gyr) stars throughout the galaxy, with the