Photometric separation of the bulge and disc components of spirals using CCD imaging

We present high-resolution CCD images of a sample of spiral galaxies, in infrared photometric bands, obtained at the Cassegrain focus of the 1 m Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope, La Palma. A decisive advantage of the linearity in these images is that we can effect a reliable separation of the light from bulge and disc. We describe possible applications of the results to determine the structure of the bulges.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.