On the global structure of distant galactic disks^*

¹ Astronomical Institute of St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
² Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150 NA7, 44780 Bochum, Germany
³ Isaac Newton Institute of Chile, St. Petersburg Branch, Russia
⁴ Astronomical Institute of St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150 NA7, 44780 Bochum, Germany Isaac Newton Institute of Chile, St. Petersburg Branch, Russia LERMA, Observatoire de Paris, 61 Av. de l'Observatoire, 75014 Paris, France

Corresponding author: V. P. Reshetnikov, resh@astro.spbu.ru

Received: 11 July 2002
Accepted: 3 December 2002

Abstract

Radial and vertical profiles are determined for a sample of 34 edge-on disk galaxies in the HDFs, selected for their apparent diameter larger than 1.3´´ and their unperturbed morphology. The thickness and flatness of their galactic disks are determined and discussed with regard to evolution with redshift. We find that sub-L^* spiral galaxies with have a relative thickness or flatness (characterized by h_z/h the scaleheight to scalelength ratio) globally similar to those in the local Universe. A slight trend is however apparent, with the h_z/h flatness ratio larger by a factor of ~1.5 in distant galaxies if compared to local samples. In absolute value, the disks are smaller than in present-day galaxies. About half of the spiral disks show a non-exponential surface brightness distribution.