Discovery of Super-Thin Disks in Nearby Edge-on Spiral Galaxies

Abstract

We report the identification of a super-thin disk (h_z~60 pc) in the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 891. This component is only apparent after we perform a physically motivated attenuation correction, based on detailed radiation transfer models, to our sub-arcsecond resolution near-infrared imaging. In addition to the super-thin disk, we are also find several structural features near the center of NGC 891, including an inner disk truncation at ~3 kpc. Inner disk truncations may be commonplace among massive spiral galaxies, possibly due to the effects of instabilities, such as bars. Having successfully demonstrated our methods, we are poised to apply them to a small sample of nearby edge-on galaxies, consisting both of massive and low-mass spirals.