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| Paper: |
The Role of Extended Ultraviolet Disk (XUV-disk) Galaxies in the IMF Controversy |
| Volume: |
440, UP2010: Have Observations Revealed a Variable Upper End of the Initial Mass Function? |
| Page: |
209 |
| Authors: |
Thilker, D. A. |
| Abstract: |
The recognition of spatially extended ultraviolet disks (XUV disks)
in nearly 30% of nearby spiral galaxies partially motivated recent
considerations of a variable upper IMF. Most intriguing is
the subset of XUV-disks which do not exhibit a comparably extended
distribution of HII regions. We are attempting to improve our
understanding of the XUV-disk phenomenon based on a comprehensive
GALEX survey of >3000 local galaxies which examines early-type
galaxies as well as spirals. We present first results from this
work. Although the new survey remains in progress, one aim was to
compile a statistically-significant reference sample of XUV-disk
UV-emitting complexes for which the distribution function of
L(Hα)/L(UV) could be measured and then compared with
predictions from cluster population models incorporating
stochasticity and genuine IMF variability. We also discuss HST
UV-optical, Spitzer near-IR, and Magellan Hα analysis of
selected XUV-disks. |
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