SDSS-IV MANGA: The radial distribution of physical properties within galaxies in the nearby universe

Abstract

Using the largest sample of galaxies observed with an optical integral field unit (IFU, the SDSS-IV MaNGA survey, ≈10000 targets), we derive the radial distribution of the physical properties obtained from the stellar continuum and the ionized-gas emission lines. Given the large sample, we are able to explore the impact of the total stellar mass and morphology by averaging those radial distributions for different bins of both global properties. In general, we find that most of the properties exhibit a negative gradient, with a secondary impact by global properties. Our results confirm the intimate interplay between the properties of the stellar component and those of the ionized gas at local (kpc) scales to set the observed radial gradients. The resemblance of the gradients for similar global properties indicates statistical similar histories of star formation and chemical enrichment, with an initial radial gas distribution following the potential of the galaxy.