Fourier Analysis of Physical Structure in Nearby Galaxies

In this investigation, we analyze the physical structure of galaxies imaged in near- and mid-infrared light by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) through the Physics at High Angular Resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) program. In our analysis, we select a region for analysis, taper the edges, take the two-dimensional Fourier Transform, and plot a one-dimensional power spectrum. Through this, we are able to elucidate the emergent spatial scales with the sharpest brightness variations in our target galaxies. Examining these structures allows for a greater understanding of the dominant physical processes driving the evolution of galaxies in our universe.