Abstract
From Rybicki’s analysis using the Fourier slice theorem, mathematically it is possi-
ble to reproduce uniquely an edge-on axisymmetric galaxy’s 3D light distribution from its 2D
surface brightness. Utilizing galaxies from a cosmological simulation, we examine the abil-
ity of Syer and Tremaine’s made-to-measure method and Schwarzschild’s method for stellar
dynamical modeling to do so for edge-on oblate axisymmetric galaxies. Overall, we find that
the methods do not accurately recover the 3D distributions, with the made-to-measure method
producing more accurate estimates than Schwarzschild’s method. Our results have implica-
tions broader than just luminosity density, and affect other luminosity-weighted distributions
within galaxies, for example, age and metallicity.
ble to reproduce uniquely an edge-on axisymmetric galaxy’s 3D light distribution from its 2D
surface brightness. Utilizing galaxies from a cosmological simulation, we examine the abil-
ity of Syer and Tremaine’s made-to-measure method and Schwarzschild’s method for stellar
dynamical modeling to do so for edge-on oblate axisymmetric galaxies. Overall, we find that
the methods do not accurately recover the 3D distributions, with the made-to-measure method
producing more accurate estimates than Schwarzschild’s method. Our results have implica-
tions broader than just luminosity density, and affect other luminosity-weighted distributions
within galaxies, for example, age and metallicity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 8 Feb 2021 |