next up previous contents
Next: Discussion Up: Radio galaxies with disks Previous: Disky galaxies

Morphological Signatures of disks

In Appendix gif (Page gif) we describe the morphological image processing techniques that we have applied to our galaxies to look for disks. For the disks the morphological gradient technique is the most suitable. A disk, when it is present, exists along with the underlying bulge. This additional component provides a contrast over the 'background' of the bulge. It is this contrast that the gradient filter is able to detect.

We have applied the gradient to all our galaxies. The filter is able to bring out features like spiral arms and elongated structures especially well. For normal elliptical galaxies, the filter does not introduce any artificial structures. The images of the radio galaxies with disks, after processing with the morphological gradient filter, are shown in Figure gif along with that of a normal galaxy. The filter involves manipulating the image and hence after processing it is not straightforward to carry out photometry on the resultant image.

We see that the spiral features of 1222-252 come out better after the gradient processing. The disk in 1006-214 is also brought out well by the filter with the blue feature possibly due to emission lines standing out at one end. In 1053-282 we see an elongated disk like structure at the center of the galaxy. However, it is not visible in the outer parts of the galaxy. In 1215-215, hint of a spiral structure is seen to the north. In 0952-224 the disky structure is seen north-south.

  figure2612