As part of a long-term project to revisit the kinematics and dynamics of the large disc galaxies of the Local Group, we present the first deep, wide-field (42 x 56) 3D-spectroscopic survey of the ionized gas disc of Messier 33. Fabry-Perot interferom
etry has been used to map its Ha distribution and kinematics at unprecedented angular resolution (<3) and resolving power (12600), with the 1.6m telescope at the Observatoire du Mont Megantic. The ionized gas distribution follows a complex, large-scale spiral structure, unsurprisingly coincident with the already-known spiral structures of the neutral and molecular gas discs. The kinematical analysis of the velocity field shows that the rotation center of the Ha disc is distant from the photometric center by 170 pc (sky projected distance) and that the kinematical major-axis position angle and disc inclination are in excellent agreement with photometric values. The Ha rotation curve agrees very well with the HI rotation curves for 0 < R < 6.5 kpc, but the Ha velocities are 10-20 km/s higher for R > 6.5 kpc. The reason for this discrepancy is not well understood. The velocity dispersion profile is relatively flat around 16 km/s, which is at the low end of velocity dispersions of nearby star-forming galactic discs. A strong relation is also found between the Ha velocity dispersion and the Ha intensity. Mass models were obtained using the Ha rotation curve but, as expected, the dark matter halos parameters are not very well constrained since the optical rotation curve only extends out to 8 kpc.
Mass models of 15 nearby dwarf and spiral galaxies are presented. The galaxies are selected to be homogeneous in terms of the method used to determine their distances, the sampling of their rotation curves (RCs) and the mass-to-light ratio (M/L) of t
heir stellar contributions, which will minimize the uncertainties on the mass model results. Those RCs are modeled using the MOdified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) prescription and the observationally motivated pseudo-isothermal (ISO) dark matter (DM) halo density distribution. For the MOND models with fixed (M/L), better fits are obtained when the constant a$_{0}$ is allowed to vary, giving a mean value of (1.13 $pm$ 0.50) $times$ 10$^{-8}$ cm s$^{-2}$, compared to the standard value of 1.21 $times$ 10$^{-8}$ cm s$^{-2}$. Even with a$_{0}$ as a free parameter, MOND provides acceptable fits (reduced $chi^{2}_{r}$ $<$ 2) for only 60% (9/15) of the sample. The data suggest that galaxies with higher central surface brightnesses tend to favor higher values of the constant a$_{0}$. This poses a serious challenge to MOND since a$_{0}$ should be a universal constant. For the DM models, our results confirm that the DM halo surface density of ISO models is nearly constant at $ rho_{0} R_{C} sim 120 M_{odot} pc^{-2}$. This means that if the (M/L) is determined by stellar population models, ISO DM models are left with only one free parameter, the DM halo central surface density.
In our quest to constrain the dynamical and structural properties of Local Group spirals from high-quality interferometric data, we have performed a neutral hydrogen survey in the direction of Messier 33. Here we present a few preliminary results fro
m the survey and show the benefits of fitting the HI spectra by multiple peaks on constraining the structure of the Messier 33 disk. In particular we report on the discovery of new inner spiral-like and outer annular structures overlaying with the well-known main HI disk of Messier 33. Possible origins of the additional outer annular structure are presented.
[Abridged] We present a new deep 21-cm survey of the Andromeda galaxy, based on high resolution observations performed with the Synthesis Telescope and the 26-m antenna at DRAO. The HI distribution and kinematics of the disc are analyzed and basic dy
namical properties are given. The rotation curve is measured out to 38 kpc, showing a nuclear peak, a dip around 4 kpc, two distinct flat parts and an increase in the outermost regions. Except for the innermost regions, the axisymmetry of the gas rotation is very good. A very strong warp of the HI disc is evidenced. The central regions appear less inclined than the average disc inclination, while the outer regions appear more inclined. Mass distribution models by LCDM NFW, Einasto or pseudo-isothermal dark matter halos with baryonic components are presented. They fail to reproduce the exact shape of the rotation curve. No significant differences are measured between the various shapes of halo. The dynamical mass of M31 enclosed within a radius of 38 kpc is (4.7 +/- 0.5) x 10^11 Msol. The dark matter component is almost 4 times more massive than the baryonic mass inside this radius. A total mass of 1.0 x 10^12 Msol is derived inside the virial radius. New HI structures are discovered in the datacube, like the detection of up to five HI components per spectrum, which is very rarely seen in other galaxies. The most remarkable new HI structures are thin HI spurs and an external arm in the disc outskirts. A relationship between these spurs and outer stellar clumps is evidenced. The external arm is 32 kpc long, lies on the far side of the galaxy and has no obvious counterpart on the other side of the galaxy. Its kinematics clearly differs from the outer adjacent disc. Both these HI perturbations could result from tidal interactions with galaxy companions.
We report on preliminary results from a new deep 21-cm survey of the Andromeda galaxy, based on observations performed with the Synthesis Telescope and the 26-m antenna at DRAO. The HI distribution and kinematics of the disc are analyzed and basic dy
namical properties are derived. New HI structures are discovered, like thin HI spur-like structures and an external arm in the disc outskirts. The HI spurs are related to perturbed stellar clumps outside the main disc of M31. The external arm lies on the far, receding side of the galaxy and has no obvious counterpart in the opposite side. These HI perturbations probably result from tidal interactions with companions. It is found a dynamical mass of 4.7 +/- 0.5 x10^11 Msol enclosed within a radius R = 38 kpc and a total mass of ~1 x10^12 Msol inside the virial radius.
