The Tully-Fisher relation: evolution with redshift and environment

Abstract

The Tully-Fisher Relation (TFR) links two fundamental properties of disk galaxies: their luminosity and their rotation velocity (mass). The pioneering work of Vogt et al. in the 1990's showed that it is possible to study the TFR for spiral galaxies at considerable look-back-times, and use it as a powerful probe of their evolution. In recent years, several groups have studied the TFR for galaxies in different environments reaching redshifts beyond one. In this brief review I summarise the main results of some of these studies and their consequences for our understanding of the formation and evolution of disk galaxies. Particular emphasis is placed on the possible environment-driven differences in the behaviour of the TFR for field and cluster galaxies.