Astron. Astrophys. 343, 751-759 (1999)

A linear near-IR Tully-Fisher relation for giant and dwarf late-type galaxies

D. Pierini and R.J. Tuffs

Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany

Received 13 August 1998 / Accepted 15 December 1998

Abstract

We present the near-IR (-band, i.e.: ) Tully-Fisher (TF) relation for a sample of 50 giant and dwarf late-type galaxies, selected from the Virgo Cluster Catalogue. We find that along a range of 8 -mag for galaxies with different Hubble types (from Sa to Im-BCD), phenomenologies, structures, star-formation histories, masses, dark-to-luminous mass ratios, metallicities and, perhaps, ages. The linearity of the near-IR TF relation is in contrast with recent determinations of the optical TF relations for samples of extreme late-type and dwarf galaxies. The near-IR TF law is in agreement both with the expectation from the Fundamental Plane for disk systems and with the scenario of self-regulating star-formation in disks. The previous results suggest that the TF relation reflects the connection between the structural/dynamical properties and the star-formation process of both giant and dwarf late-type galaxies, through a gas supply for star-formation regulated by the gravitational potential of the galaxy.

Key words: galaxies: distances and redshifts galaxies: fundamental parameters galaxies: irregular galaxies: structure infrared: galaxies

Send offprint requests to: D. Pierini

© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 1999

Online publication: March 1, 1999

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