Radial structure of galactic stellar disks

We present the results from our deep optical imaging survey mu(lim)(V) approximate to26 - 27 mag/ rectangle" of a morphologically selected sample of 72 edgeon disk galaxies. The question of the global structure of galactic stellar disks, especially the radial surface brightness profile at large galactocentric distances, is addressed. We find that typical radial profiles are better described by a two-slope exponential profile.-characterised by an inner and outer scalelength separated at a break radius-rather than a sharply-truncated exponential model. Results are given for three faceon, equivalents, serving as the crucial test to assure the findings for the edge-on sample without possible geometrical line-of-sight effects.