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Universality of galactic surface densities within one dark halo scale-length

Author

Listed:
  • Gianfranco Gentile

    (Sterrenkundig Observatorium, Universiteit Gent, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
    Institut d'Astronomie et d'Astrophysique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 226, Bvd du Triomphe, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium)

  • Benoit Famaey

    (Institut d'Astronomie et d'Astrophysique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 226, Bvd du Triomphe, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium
    CNRS UMR 7550, Observatoire Astronomique, Université de Strasbourg
    AIfA, Universität Bonn)

  • HongSheng Zhao

    (SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, KY16 9SS, UK
    Leiden University, Sterrewacht and Instituut-Lorentz, Niels-Bohrweg 2, 2333 CA, Leiden, the Netherlands)

  • Paolo Salucci

    (SISSA International School for Advanced Studies, via Beirut 4, I-34151, Trieste, Italy)

Abstract

Lightening the darkness All galaxies are thought to be surrounded by a halo of invisible 'dark matter', detectable only through its gravitational interactions. Gentile et al. report the discovery of a surprising relationship between the distributions of dark and luminous matter in galaxies spanning a wide range of observational properties. They find that within one dark halo scale-length, the mean luminous surface density is constant for galaxies of virtually all shapes and sizes. This follows the recent discovery that the mean dark matter surface density within one dark halo scale-length (the radius for which the volume density profile of dark matter remains 'flat') is virtually constant for all galaxies.

Suggested Citation

  • Gianfranco Gentile & Benoit Famaey & HongSheng Zhao & Paolo Salucci, 2009. "Universality of galactic surface densities within one dark halo scale-length," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7264), pages 627-628, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:461:y:2009:i:7264:d:10.1038_nature08437
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08437
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