Using Gas Kinematics To Constrain 3D Models of Disks: IC 2531

Abstract

We use deep, longslit spectra of the nearby edge on galaxy IC 2531 to obtain gas kinematics out to 5 radial scale-lengths (40 kpc) and 4 vertical scale-heights (1.7 kpc). The large vertical range spanned by our data offers unique leverage to constrain three-dimensional models. The shape of the observed emission-line profiles offer insights to line-of-sight density distributions in the disk, and we discuss the possibility that we are seeing disk-flaring in the ionized gas. Finally, we begin to quantify measurements of line shape to allow model galaxies to be compared to data across all radii and heights simultaneously.

4 pages, 3 figures. To appear in the conference proceedings of The Structure and Dynamics of Disk Galaxies, M.S. Seigar and P. Treuthardt, eds