1.65 micron (H-band) surface photometry of galaxies. VIII: the near-IR   k-space at z=0
  We present the distribution of a statistical sample of nearby galaxies in the k-space (k1 ~ log M, k2 ~ log Ie, k3 ~ log M/L). Our study is based on near-IR (H-band: lambda = 1.65 micron) observations, for the first time comprising early- and late-type systems. Our data confirm that the mean effective dynamical mass-to-light ratio M/L of the E+S0+S0a galaxies increases with increasing effective dynamical mass M, as expected from the existence of the Fundamental Plane relation. Conversely, spiral and Im/BCD galaxies show a broad distribution in M/L with no detected trend of M/L with M, the former galaxies having M/L values about twice larger than the latter, on average. For all the late-type galaxies, the M/L increases with decreasing effective surface intensity Ie, consistent with the existence of the Tully--Fisher relation. These results are discussed on the basis of the assumptions behind the construction of the k-space and their limitations. Our study is complementary to a previous investigation in the optical (B-band: lambda = 0.44 micron) and allows us to study wavelength-dependences of the galaxy distribution in the k-space. As a first result, we find that the galaxy distribution in the k1--k2 plane reproduces the transition from bulge-less to bulge-dominated systems in galaxies of increasing dynamical mass. Conversely, it appears that the M/L of late-types is higher (lower) than that of early-types with the same M in the near-IR (optical). The origins of this behaviour are discussed in terms of dust attenuation and star formation history. 
D. Pierini (1), G. Gavazzi (2), P. Franzetti (2), M. Scodeggio (3), A.   Boselli (4) ((1) The University of Toledo, (2) Univ...