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Paper: An Observational Study of Density Waves in M 81
Volume: 396, Formation and Evolution of Galaxy Disks
Page: 361
Authors: Kendall, S.; Kennicutt, R.C.; Clarke, C.
Abstract: Spiral structure in M 81 is investigated using the Spitzer/IRAC near infrared data from the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS). Near infrared images are used to study the underlying mass distribution, assuming a constant mass-luminosity relation. The non-axisymmetric components of the mass are analyzed and clear evidence for spiral structure is found. In addition to the mass distribution, the response of the gas can be observed (via dust emission) in the 8 μm IRAC band. A comparison between the angular offset of the stellar spiral with the gas shock allows the radius of corotation to be determined, and hence the inner Lindblad resonance. As a potentially useful aside to this work, it is shown that the underlying mass-distribution of the galaxy can be recreated from both infrared and optical data.
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