2,131 research outputs found
Palomar/Las Campanas Imaging Atlas of Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies: II. Surface Photometry and the Properties of the Underlying Stellar Population
We present the results from an analysis of surface photometry of B, R, and
Halpha images of a total of 114 nearby galaxies drawn from the Palomar/Las
Campanas Imaging Atlas of Blue Compact Dwarf galaxies. Surface brightness and
color profiles for the complete sample have been obtained. We determine the
exponential and Sersic profiles that best fit the surface brightness
distribution of the underlying stellar population detected in these galaxies.
We also compute the (B-R) color and total absolute magnitude of the underlying
stellar population and compared them to the integrated properties of the
galaxies in the sample. Our analysis shows that the (B-R) color of the
underlying population is systematically redder than the integrated color,
except in those galaxies where the integrated colors are strongly contaminated
by line and nebular-continuum emission. We also find that galaxies with
relatively red underlying stellar populations (typically (B-R)>~1mag) show
structural properties compatible with those of dwarf elliptical galaxies (i.e.
a smooth light distribution, fainter extrapolated central surface brightness
and larger scale lengths than BCD galaxies with blue underlying stellar
populations). At least ~15% of the galaxies in the sample are compatible with
being dwarf elliptical (dE) galaxies experiencing a burst of star formation.
For the remaining BCD galaxies in the sample we do not find any correlation
between the recent star formation activity and their structural differences
with respect to other types of dwarf galaxies.Comment: 35 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in ApJS. Postscript
files of panels f1a-f1o of figure 1 are available online at
http://www.ociw.edu/~agpaz/astro-ph/apjs2004
Global velocity field and bubbles in the BCD Mrk86
We have studied the velocity field of the Blue Compact Dwarf galaxy Mrk86
(NGC2537) using data provided by 14 long-slit optical spectra. This kinematical
information is complemented with narrow-band ([OIII]5007A and Halpha) and
broad-band (B, V, Gunn-r and K) imaging. The analysis of the galaxy global
velocity field suggests that the ionized gas could be distributed in a rotating
inclined disk, with projected central angular velocity of Omega=34 km/s/kpc.
The comparison between the stellar, HI and modeled dark matter density profile,
indicates that the total mass within its optical radius is dominated by the
stellar component. Peculiarities observed in its velocity field can be
explained by irregularities in the ionized gas distribution or local motions
induced by star formation. Kinematical evidences for two expanding bubbles,
Mrk86-B and Mrk86-C, are given. They show expanding velocities of 34 km/s and
17 km/s, Halpha luminosities of 3x10^38 erg/s and 1.7x10^39 erg/s, and physical
radii of 374 and 120 pc, respectively. The change in the [SII]/Halpha,
[NII]/Halpha, [OII]/[OIII] and [OIII]/Hbeta line ratios with the distance to
the bubble precursor suggests a diminution in the ionization parameter and, in
the case of Mrk86-B, an enhancement of the shock-excited gas emission. The
optical-near-infrared colours of the bubble precursors are characteristic of
low metallicity star forming regions (0.2 Zsun) with burst strengths of about 1
per cent in mass.Comment: 14 pages, 12 PostScript figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS,
also available at ftp://cutrex.fis.ucm.es/pub/OUT/gil/PAPERS
Mapping the star formation history of Mrk86: I. Data and models
We have obtained optical (BVR, [OIII]5007 and Halpha), near infrared (JHK)
imaging and long-slit optical spectroscopy for the Blue Compact Dwarf galaxy
Mrk86 (NGC2537). In this paper, the first of two, we present optical-near-
infrared colors and emission-line fluxes for the currently star-forming
regions, intemediate aged starburst and underlying stellar population. We also
describe the evolutionary synthesis models used in Paper II. The R and Halpha
luminosity distributions of the galaxy star-forming regions show maxima at
M_R=-9.5 and L_Halpha=10^37.3 erg s^-1. The underlying stellar population shows
an exponential surface brigthness profile with central value, mu_E,0=21.5 mag
arcsec^-2, and scale, alpha=0.88 kpc, both measured in the R-band image. In the
galaxy outer regions, dominated by this component, no significant color
gradients are observed. Finally, a set of evolutionary synthesis models have
been developed, covering a wide range in metallicity and burst strength.Comment: 21 pages, 14 figures, 2 landscape tables, accepted for publication in
Astronomy & Astrophysics Supplement Series, for higher resolution images see
ftp://cutrex.fis.ucm.es/pub/OUT/gil/PAPERS/aa00_I.ps.g
The Curious Case of NGC6908
The object NGC6908 was once thought to be simply a surface-brightness
enhancement in the eastern spiral arm of the nearby spiral galaxy NGC6907.
Based on an examination of near-infrared imaging, the object is shown in fact
to be a lenticular S0(6/7) galaxy hidden in the optical glare of the disk and
spiral structure of the larger galaxy. New radial velocities of NGC6908
(3,060+/-16 (emission); 3,113+/-73 km/s (absorption)) have been obtained at the
Baade 6.5m and the duPont 2.5m telescopes at Las Campanas, Chile placing
NGC6908 at the same expansion-velocity distance as NGC6907 (3,190+/-5 km/s),
eliminating the possibility of a purely chance line-of-sight coincidence. The
once-enigmatic asymmetries in the disk and outer spiral structure of NGC6907
are now explained as being due to an advanced merger event. Newly discovered
tails and debris in the outer reaches of this galaxy further support the merger
scenario for this system. This pair of galaxies is a rather striking example of
two objects discovered over 100 years ago, whose true nature was lost until
modern detectors operating at infrared wavelengths gave us a new
(high-contrast) look. Other examples of embedded merger remnants may also
reveal themselves in the growing samples of near-infrared imaging of nearby
galaxies; and a pilot study does reveal several other promising candidates for
follow-up observations.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A
Binarity in Cool Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars: A Galex Search for Ultraviolet Excesse
The search for binarity in AGB stars is of critical importance for our
understanding of how planetary nebulae acquire the dazzling variety of
aspherical shapes which characterises this class. However, detecting binary
companions in such stars has been severely hampered due to their extreme
luminosities and pulsations. We have carried out a small imaging survey of AGB
stars in ultraviolet light (using GALEX) where these cool objects are very
faint, in order to search for hotter companions. We report the discovery of
significant far-ultraviolet excesses towards nine of these stars. The
far-ultraviolet excess most likely results either directly from the presence of
a hot binary companion, or indirectly from a hot accretion disk around the
companion.Comment: revised for Astrophysical Journa
Optical photometry of the UCM Lists I and II
We present Johnson B CCD photometry for the whole sample of galaxies of the
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) Survey Lists I and II. They constitute
a well-defined and complete sample of galaxies in the Local Universe with
active star formation. The data refer to 191 S0 to Irr galaxies at an averaged
redshift of 0.027, and complement the already published Gunn r, J and K
photometries. In this paper the observational and reduction features are
discussed in detail, and the new colour information is combined to search for
clues on the properties of the galaxies, mainly by comparing our sample with
other surveys.Comment: 14 pages, 7 PostScript figures, accepted for publication in A&AS,
also available vi ftp at ftp://cutrex.fis.ucm.es/pub/OUT/pag/PAPERS
Discovery of a double ring in the dwarf galaxy Mrk409
We report the discovery of a double ring of emission-line regions around the
nucleus of the Blue Compact Dwarf (BCD) galaxy Mrk409 as seen by deep,
ground-based Halpha images. Echelle spectroscopy obtained at Magellan-I with
MIKE shows the presence of ionized gas flowing out of the galaxy from a very
massive (>7E6 Msun) nuclear starburst with projected expansion velocities of
\~50 km/s. Different scenarios for the formation of these rings are discussed.
While the innermost, nuclear ring is most probably formed by the interaction of
a starburst-driven shock with the surrounding interstellar medium, the origin
of the outer ring is less clear.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
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