A dynamical–photometric phase space for spiral galaxies: probing the local coupling between light and gravity

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ID: 321898
2026
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Ranked #453 of 1,351 articles by views in monthly notices of the royal astronomical society

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Abstract
ABSTRACT The interplay between luminous matter distribution and the local gravitational field within disc galaxies encodes physical information beyond that captured by global scaling relations. We introduce a dynamical–photometric phase space defined by the kinematic variable $X(R)=V(R)/R$ and the photometric variable $Y(R)=\mathrm{d}\ln I/\mathrm{d}\ln R$, placing the local gravitational scale and the logarithmic surface brightness gradient into direct pointwise correspondence at each galactocentric radius R. The quantity $X=V/R=\omega$ represents the angular frequency of circular motion and acts as a probe of the local mean mass density, while Y measures the radial steepness of the stellar light distribution. The baryon-dominated inner disc is characterized by large negative Y, whereas the dark-matter-dominated outer region approaches $Y\rightarrow 0$. This two-regime behaviour is described by the smooth sigmoid relation $Y=[a\ln X+b]/(1+\exp [k(X-X_{\rm trans})])$, which reduces to the logarithmic coupling $Y=a\ln X+b$ in the baryonic zone. We apply this framework to 136 late-type galaxies from the Spitzer Photometry and Accurate Rotation Curves data base, spanning inclinations $20^{\circ }$–$89^{\circ }$, distances 1–130 Mpc, and five decades in stellar mass. The median coefficient of determination is $R^{2}=0.930$. Statistical validation includes eight independent tests together with five-fold cross-validation. The transition parameter $X_{\rm trans}$ identifies the onset of dark-matter dominance, corresponding to a median transition radius $R_{\rm trans}=5.40$ kpc across the sample.
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openalex_W7170049210 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors
Journal monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/mnras/stag1270
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