# Toward a New Millennium in Galaxy Morphology1footnote 11footnote 1Conference was held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 13-18 September 1999. Proceedings will be edited by D.L Block, I. Puerari, A. Stockton and D. Ferreira and published in a special edition of Ap&SS

Conference Highlights

The most basic process in any observational science is taxonomy - the classification of objects by their natural relationships. For almost a century, the Hubble classification has been the dominate morphological paradigm, but it appears new ideas and systems are needed. Many galaxies at high redshift as well as a fraction of galaxies in the nearby universe are unclassifiable in the Hubble sequence. Some nearby examples are low surface brightness galaxies, including dwarf spheroidals, and galaxies in clusters, especially large cD galaxies. With so much complexity in the galaxy population, new systems and ideas are needed.

We can ask at the turn of the century if optical images contain enough information to adequately classify galaxies. Perhaps other wavelengths, such as the infrared, UV, radio and sub-mm are also needed to fully cover the basic features of extragalactic systems. Spectroscopy of a galaxy, including kinematic information, or HI line profiles might also be better morphological indicators than a galaxy’s image.

To address these issues, over 90 astronomers clustered in Johannesburg, South Africa between 13-18 September to discuss the future of galaxy morphology, and how classification relates to galaxy evolution and formation. Over 60 talks and a number of posters were presented during the meeting.

Several new methods of classifying galaxy images were proposed at the conference. These new methods are in many ways different from the qualitative Hubble system. Not only are they quantitative in nature, with parameters such as asymmetry, concentration of light, Fourier components, measures of bar strengths, and automatic neural networks, but most do not reproduce the Hubble sequence, but attempt to modify or replace it (Abraham, Bershady, Conselice, Frei, Takamiya, Windhorst). Physical morphological systems based on comparing the form of a galaxy with its spectral-type look promising; these are similar to the ideas proposed by W.W. Morgan in the 1950s. There is still however, no all encompassing system that can relate all galaxies in different environments.

High redshift galaxies, such as those seen in the Hubble Deep Field (HDF) have brought about this new interest in morphology. Although, most of the HDF, and medium deep survey (MDS) images of distant galaxies are sampling rest frame ultraviolet morphologies, the most disturbed galaxies remain disturbed when viewed with NICMOS on HST. Therefore, these galaxies are intrinsically different from nearby ones; their morphologies are not the result of morphological k-corrections. We are however, only sampling the young to middle aged stars when viewing galaxies in optical/near infrared wavelengths. Limiting ourselves to these wavelengths, we are missing a large fraction of the light output from galaxies. The effects of dust on the morphology of galaxies, and much of the gas is being missed.

Our view of the dusty universe is provided by ISO, IRAS, SCUBA and other instruments that probe long-ward of 5$`\mu `$m (Cesarsky, Laurent, Mirabel, Sanders, Sauvage, Scoville). Not only does a significant fraction of the light emitted from galaxies occur at these wavelengths, but because of dust effects several features can only be seen by examining galaxies at these wavelengths. Hidden star formation in mid ISOCAM images of nearby galaxies, prove that dust is a significant factor affecting the morphology of galaxies. Luminous and ultra-luminous infrared galaxies are probably major galaxy mergers, with their optical morphology dominated by dust absorption. SCUBA sources seen at redshifts z $`<`$ 6, are probably analogs to nearby ULIGs and possibly are progenitors of ellipticals with L $`>10^{12}`$ L. Many of these questions will be answered with the next generation of sub-mm instrumentation (Combes).

Using near infrared images, particularly in the K band is useful for determining the underlying structure of the old stellar populations in galaxies. Bars and other morphological features are more easily detected in the NIR. The spiral structure of galaxies, specifically the pitch angle, changes between optical and NIR wavelengths (Block). Using Fourier analysis, three principle NIR spiral galaxy morphologies are found. The pitch angle of the spiral arms in these families, viewed in the NIR correlates with the shape of velocity rotation profiles (Block), an effect not seen in optical wavelengths.

Using dust corrected rest frame optical fluxes, infrared, sub-mm fluxes from high redshift galaxies and the sub-mm background, it is possible to obtain an estimate of the star formation history of the universe (Lagache, Thompson). Determining the star formation rate in a galaxy is tricky, and estimates of star formation rates are based on dust correction assumptions. Although, we do not know if the dust in high redshift galaxies behaves the same as dust in nearby galaxies. To paraphrase Mayo Greenberg, ”Galaxies evolve, stars evolve, so why not dust?”. Additionally, we do not know the full effects of stellar winds, SNe, magnetic fields, and possibly other feedback mechanisms (Chu) to say nothing of the effects of black holes and AGN phenomenon on the morphology of galaxies.

The masses of black holes correlate with the masses of their host galaxy’s spheroidal components (Macchetteo) suggesting a possible feedback mechanism and related formation. AGNs might also play an important role in star formation in galaxies. The space density of AGNs is related to the star formation history of the universe (Miley). Jet outflows are an important component for the formation of stars in galaxies, and hence could have a significant effect on their morphologies.

These physical mechanisms can change how a galaxy looks in the general, but perhaps more detailed features deserve a closer look. Rings, bars, and globular clusters all hold clues to galaxy formation. Rings (Buta) can be located at resonances, are sites of star formation and are potentially triggered by bars, or interactions with other galaxies. Bars also produce spiral arms, star formation, and drive secular evolution in spiral galaxies. The bar frequency among spiral galaxies in the local population seen in the near infrared is at about 60% (Eskridge, Knapen). The bar fraction decreases at higher redshifts (Abraham), suggesting that bars might form later in the evolution of galaxies. The specific frequency and properties of globular clusters, especially metallicity distributions, can also be used to determine the evolutionary history of galaxies (B. Elmegreen).

An overlooked feature for morphological studies of galaxies is their gas content. While some forms of ionized gas can be seen at optical wavelengths, most gas is detectable in the radio. HI 21cm lines images of galaxies are generally more extended than in the optical, and more commonly show signs of interaction and mergers than galaxies in optical light (Sancisi). Interactions between galaxies is a critical aspect for their evolution, and any complete morphological system must include dynamical indices. The effects of mergers and interactions on galaxies, including the intensity of the induced star formation, can vary depending on the initial orbital conditions (Horellou).

HI gas dynamics can be used to determine the underlying physical nature of galaxy disks, including dark matter halos. Recent observations suggest that dark matter halos are triaxial and possibly rotating in some galaxies (Freeman). These rotating dark matter halos, predicted by CDM could be responsible for the structure of HI disks. High resolution rotation curves also show that the luminous mass of galaxies does not trace dark matter potentials in halos (Sofue). Vertical structures of edge-on disk galaxies are also inconsistent with slowly rising rotation curves (van der Kruit).

Knowing the structure of galaxies naturally leads towards learning how galaxies formed and evolved. Observationally we know that the galaxy population looked different in the past (Abraham, Conselice, Illingworth, Windhorst) but how did this evolution occur? Evidence for dissipative collapse, where galaxies are created from the inside out, includes metallicity gradients that correlate with bulge luminosity, and old bulges (Goudfrooij). On the other hand, properties of spirals from Sm to S0s suggest galaxies formed through a secular process (Pfenniger). Additionally dynamical evolution of galaxies based on semi-analytical and N-body simulates using likely initial conditions of the universe suggest galaxies formed hierarchically. Although, dark matter halos in these models are too concentrated and fail to produce correct sizes for disk galaxies (Steinmetz). There is however, observational evidence for hierarchical formation of galaxies at high redshifts (Illingworth). Morphologies of certain spirals can also change in special environments such as galaxy clusters through high speed galaxy interactions (Lake).

The observations and theory described above is beginning to reveal how galaxies were formed, evolved and how fundamental properties relate to morphology. A good taxonomy system for extragalactic objects should classify galaxies according to characteristics that best describe galaxy evolution; perhaps interactions, star formation history, gas content, and dark matter/rotation curve profiles, are among these. Although such a morphological system does not presently exist, the accumulation of observational data and the further development of theory will suggest what parameters are the best for understanding the structure and evolution of galaxies.

Christopher J. Conselice

University of Wisconsin, Madison