# Dark Matter in Late-type Dwarf Galaxies

## 1 Introduction

Previous studies of dwarf irregular galaxies have mostly found that these systems have slowly rising rotation curves and that they are dominated by dark matter, even well within the optical disk (e.g., Carignan & Beaulieu 1989, Broeils 1992, Côté 1995). However, based on new observations and a different technique to derive rotation curves, we find that the rotation curves may be steeper and that dark matter may be important in the outer parts only.

## 2 Sample and observations

From the UGC catalog, we have selected all galaxies with Hubble types Sdm or later, north of $`\delta =20`$ and with HI flux densities larger than 200 mJy. This resulted in a sample of 112 dwarf galaxies, 75 of which have been observed in HI with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope as part of the WHISP survey (Kamphuis et al. 1996), and in the optical $`R`$-band with the Isaac Newton Telescope at La Palma (Swaters & Balcells, in preparation).

## 3 Mass modeling

Rotation curves have been derived for 44 dwarf galaxies that have high enough signal-to-noise ratios, that are sufficiently resolved, and that show clear signs of rotation. Mass models have been fitted to these rotation curves, assuming “maximum disk”, i.e. scaling the stellar contribution to the rotation to fit most of the inner part of the rotation curve. For the dark matter distribution an isothermal halo with core has been assumed.

Initially, the rotation curves were derived by fitting a tilted ring model to the velocity fields. Fig. 1 shows the rotation curve for one example: UGC 7559. The mass model based on this rotation curve (see Fig. 1) shows that the dark matter dominates at almost all radii. However, as can be seen from the fit, the maximum disk scaling hinges upon the very inner points, and only a small change in their values can have a strong effect on the derived mass model.

To estimate the uncertainties in the inner points, due to the combined effects of beam smearing and the distribution of HI, we constructed model data cubes for these dwarfs, using as input the observed HI distribution, the derived rotation curve and a velocity dispersion of the gas of 8 km s<sup>-1</sup>. The output model was compared to the observations, and the rotation velocities were scaled up to find the steepest rotation curve that is still compatible with the data. Fig. 2 shows the mass models for the same galaxy, based on the modelled rotation curve. Even though the changes in the rotation curve are only a few km s<sup>-1</sup>, the mass model has changed dramatically. Rather than being dominated by dark matter, the stellar distribution dominates the mass within the optical radius for maximum disk, and the dark mass starts to take over only beyond three disk scale lengths. This is true not only for UGC 7559, but for all galaxies in this sample. However, the maximum disk models require high stellar $`M/L`$ values for some of the dwarf galaxies. For the modelled rotation curves, a third of the $`M/L`$ values are larger than 5.

Within the uncertainties in the rotation curve in the inner parts, both solutions, dominant dark halo or dominant stellar mass within the optical radius, can be accomodated. More detailed modelling and higher resolution observations are necessary to pin down the exact shape of the rotation curve in the inner parts. H$`\alpha `$ rotation curves for a few dwarf galaxies show that the inner rotation curves indeed are steeper than those derived using titled ring fits (Carignan 1985, Blais-Ouellette, this volume).

The dwarf galaxies in this sample show that the canonical picture of dwarfs being dominated by dark matter within the optical disk may not be correct. The rotation curves for dwarfs may be steeper and may be dominated by the stellar contribution within the optical radius. Outside the optical disk, dark matter dominates.