IAn Automatic Measurement Method for the Galaxy Disk Warp and its Application to SDSS Stripe 82 Galaxies

The galaxy disk warp is a common phenomenon, yet their properties and formation mechanism(s) are still unclear. Here, we introduce a new automatic measurement method for the warp properties of stellar disks in nearby edge-on galaxies, including warp's angle, shape, and asymmetry. We obtain isophotal maps of edge-on galaxies and express each of isophote contours in polar coordinates (${\Phi}$, R) centered on the galaxy centers. Two peaks in the ${\Phi}$-R diagram correspond to the outermost tips of each isophote. The locations of peaks, in turn, inform us of the misalignment between their inner and outer galactic planes, i.e., the warp. We apply this method to SDSS Stripe 82 co-added data and discuss its reliability and validity. Based on the measurement of warp properties, we also investigate their correlations with both intrinsic and environmental properties of warped galaxies.