69 research outputs found
NGC 4654: polarized radio continuum emission as a diagnostic tool for a galaxy--cluster interaction
A recent comparison between deep VLA HI observations and dynamical models of
the Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4654 has shown that only a model involving
a combination of a tidal interaction and ram pressure can reproduce the data.
Deep radio polarization studies, together with detailed MHD modeling, can
independently verify those conclusions, that are based on HI observations and
dynamical models. We performed deep polarized radio-continuum observations of
the Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4654 with the Effelsberg 100m telescope at
8.35 GHz and the VLA at 4.85 GHz. Detailed 3D MHD simulations were made to
determine the large-scale magnetic field and the emission distribution of the
polarized radio continuum in the model, during the galaxy evolution within the
cluster environment. This direct comparison between the observed and simulated
polarized radio continuum emission corroborates the earlier results, that the
galaxy had a recent rapid close encounter with NGC 4639 and is undergoing weak
ram pressure by the intracluster medium. This combination of deep radio
polarization studies and detailed MHD modeling thus gives us unique insight
into the interactions of a galaxy with its cluster environment. It represents a
diagnostic tool that is complementary to deep HI observations.Comment: Corrected galaxy name in captions of figures (1 & 2
3D global simulations of a cosmic-ray-driven dynamo in dwarf galaxies
Star-forming dwarf galaxies can be seen as the local proxies of the
high-redshift building blocks of more massive galaxies according to the current
paradigm of the hierarchical galaxy formation. They are low-mass objects, and
therefore their rotation speed is very low. Several galaxies are observed to
show quite strong magnetic fields. These cases of strong ordered magnetic
fields seem to correlate with a high, but not extremely high, star formation
rate. We investigate whether these magnetic fields could be generated by the
cosmic-ray-driven dynamo. The environment of a dwarf galaxy is unfavourable for
the large-scale dynamo action because of the very slow rotation that is
required to create the regular component of the magnetic field. We built a 3D
global model of a dwarf galaxy that consists of two gravitational components:
the stars and the dark-matter halo described by the purely phenomenological
profile proposed previously. We solved a system of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)
equations that include an additional cosmic-ray component described by the
fluid approximation. We found that the cosmic-ray-driven dynamo can amplify the
magnetic field with an exponential growth rate. The -folding time is
correlated with the initial rotation speed. The final mean value of the
azimuthal flux for our models is of the order of few G and the system
reaches its equipartition level. The results indicate that the
cosmic-ray-driven dynamo is a process that can explain the magnetic fields in
dwarf galaxies.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Cosmic-ray driven dynamo in the interstellar medium of irregular galaxies
Irregular galaxies are usually smaller and less massive than their spiral,
S0, and elliptical counterparts. Radio observations indicate that a magnetic
field is present in irregular galaxies whose value is similar to that in spiral
galaxies. However, the conditions in the interstellar medium of an irregular
galaxy are unfavorable for amplification of the magnetic field because of the
slow rotation and low shearing rate. We investigate the cosmic-ray driven
dynamo in the interstellar medium of an irregular galaxy. We study its
efficiency under the conditions of slow rotation and weak shear. The star
formation is also taken into account in our model and is parametrized by the
frequency of explosions and modulations of activity. The numerical model
includes a magnetohydrodynamical dynamo driven by cosmic rays that is injected
into the interstellar medium by randomly exploding supernovae. In the model, we
also include essential elements such as vertical gravity of the disk,
differential rotation approximated by the shearing box, and resistivity leading
to magnetic reconnection. We find that even slow galactic rotation with a low
shearing rate amplifies the magnetic field, and that rapid rotation with a low
value of the shear enhances the efficiency of the dynamo. Our simulations have
shown that a high amount of magnetic energy leaves the simulation box becoming
an efficient source of intergalactic magnetic fields.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure
Pre-peak ram pressure stripping in the Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4501
VIVA HI observations of the Virgo spiral galaxy NGC 4501 are presented. The
HI disk is sharply truncated to the southwest, well within the stellar disk. A
region of low surface-density gas, which is more extended than the main HI
disk, is discovered northeast of the galaxy center. These data are compared to
existing 6cm polarized radio continuum emission, Halpha, and optical broad band
images. We observe a coincidence between the western HI and polarized emission
edges, on the one hand, and a faint Halpha emission ridge, on the other. The
polarized emission maxima are located within the gaps between the spiral arms
and the faint Halpha ridge. Based on the comparison of these observations with
a sample of dynamical simulations with different values for maximum ram
pressure and different inclination angles between the disk and the orbital
plane,we conclude that ram pressure stripping can account for the main observed
characteristics. NGC 4501 is stripped nearly edge-on, is heading southwest, and
is ~200-300 Myr before peak ram pressure, i.e. its closest approach to M87. The
southwestern ridge of enhanced gas surface density and enhanced polarized
radio-continuum emission is due to ram pressure compression. It is argued that
the faint western Halpha emission ridge is induced by nearly edge-on ram
pressure stripping. NGC 4501 represents an especially clear example of early
stage ram pressure stripping of a large cluster-spiral galaxy.Comment: 22 pages, 25 figures, accepted for publication in A&
The magnetic fields of large Virgo cluster spirals: Paper II
The Virgo cluster of galaxies provides excellent conditions for studying
interactions of galaxies with the cluster environment. Both the high-velocity
tidal interactions and effects of ram pressure stripping by the intracluster
gas can be investigated in detail. We extend our systematic search for possible
anomalies in the magnetic field structures of Virgo cluster spirals in order to
characterize a variety of effects and attribute them to different disturbing
agents. Six angularly large Virgo cluster spiral galaxies (NGC4192, NGC4302,
NGC4303, NGC4321, NGC4388, and NGC4535) were targets of a sensitive total power
and polarization study using the 100-m radio telescope in Effelsberg at 4.85GHz
and 8.35GHz (except for NGC4388 observed only at 4.85GHz, and NGC4535 observed
only at 8.35GHz). Magnetic field structures distorted to various extent are
found in all galaxies. Three galaxies (NGC4302, NGC4303, and NGC4321) show some
signs of possible tidal interactions, while NGC4388 and NGC4535 have very
likely experienced strong ram-pressure and shearing effects, respectively,
visible as distortions and asymmetries of polarized intensity distributions. As
in our previous study, even strongly perturbed galaxies closely follow the
radio-far-infrared correlation. In NGC4303 and NGC4321, we observe symmetric
spiral patterns of the magnetic field and in NGC4535 an asymmetric pattern.
Magnetic fields allow us to trace even weak interactions that are difficult to
detect with other observations. Our results show that the degree of distortions
of a galaxy is not a simple function of the distance to the cluster center but
reflects also the history of its interactions. The angle between the velocity
vector and the rotation vector of a galaxy may be a general parameter that
describes the level of distortions of galactic magnetic fields.Comment: 12 pages, 18 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Astronomy
and Astrophysic
Large-scale radio continuum properties of 19 Virgo cluster galaxies The influence of tidal interactions, ram pressure stripping, and accreting gas envelopes
Deep scaled array VLA 20 and 6cm observations including polarization of 19
Virgo spirals are presented. This sample contains 6 galaxies with a global
minimum of 20cm polarized emission at the receding side of the galactic disk
and quadrupolar type large-scale magnetic fields. In the new sample no
additional case of a ram-pressure stripped spiral galaxy with an asymmetric
ridge of polarized radio continuum emission was found. In the absence of a
close companion, a truncated HI disk, together with a ridge of polarized radio
continuum emission at the outer edge of the HI disk, is a signpost of ram
pressure stripping. 6 out of the 19 observed galaxies display asymmetric 6cm
polarized emission distributions. Three galaxies belong to tidally interacting
pairs, two galaxies host huge accreting HI envelopes, and one galaxy had a
recent minor merger. Tidal interactions and accreting gas envelopes can lead to
compression and shear motions which enhance the polarized radio continuum
emission. In addition, galaxies with low average star formation rate per unit
area have a low average degree of polarization. Shear or compression motions
can enhance the degree of polarization. The average degree of polarization of
tidally interacting galaxies is generally lower than expected for a given
rotation velocity and star formation activity. This low average degree of
polarization is at least partly due to the absence of polarized emission from
the thin disk. Ram pressure stripping can decrease whereas tidal interactions
most frequently decreases the average degree of polarization of Virgo spiral
galaxies. We found that moderate active ram pressure stripping has no influence
on the spectral index, but enhances the global radio continuum emission with
respect to the FIR emission, while an accreting gas envelope can but not
necessarily enhances the radio continuum emission with respect to the FIR
emission.Comment: 37 pages, 26 figures, accepted for publication in A&
A dynamical model for the heavily ram pressure stripped Virgo spiral galaxy NGC 4522
A dynamical model including ram pressure stripping is applied to the strongly
HI deficient Virgo spiral galaxy NGC 4522. A carefully chosen model snapshot is
compared with existing VLA HI observations. The model successfully reproduces
the large-scale gas distribution and the velocity field. However it fails to
reproduce the large observed HI linewidths in the extraplanar component, for
which we give possible explanations. In a second step, we solve the induction
equation on the velocity fields of the dynamical model and calculate the large
scale magnetic field. Assuming a Gaussian distribution of relativistic
electrons we obtain the distribution of polarized radio continuum emission
which is also compared with our VLA observations at 6 cm. The observed maximum
of the polarized radio continuum emission is successfully reproduced. Our model
suggests that the ram pressure maximum occurred only ~50 Myr ago. Since NGC
4522 is located far away from the cluster center (~1 Mpc) where the
intracluster medium density is too low to cause the observed stripping if the
intracluster medium is static and smooth, two scenarios are envisaged: (i) the
galaxy moves very rapidly within the intracluster medium and is not even bound
to the cluster; in this case the galaxy has just passed the region of highest
intracluster medium density; (ii) the intracluster medium is not static but
moving due to the infall of the M49 group of galaxies. In this case the galaxy
has just passed the region of highest intracluster medium velocity. This study
shows the strength of combining high resolution HI and polarized radio
continuum emission with detailed numerical modeling of the evolution of the gas
and the large-scale magnetic field.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&
The magnetic fields of large Virgo Cluster spirals
Because of its proximity the Virgo Cluster is an excellent target for
studying interactions of galaxies with the cluster environment. Both the
high-velocity tidal interactions and effects of ram pressure stripping by the
intracluster gas can be investigated. Optical and/or \ion{H}{i} observations do
not always show effects of weak interactions between galaxies and their
encounters with the cluster medium. For this reason we searched for possible
anomalies in the magnetic field structure in Virgo Cluster spirals which could
be attributed to perturbations in their gas distribution and kinematics. Five
angularly large Virgo Cluster spiral galaxies (NGC 4501, NGC 4438, NGC 4535,
NGC 4548 and NGC 4654) were the targets for a sensitive total power and
polarization study using the 100-m radio telescope in Effelsberg at 4.85 GHz.
For two objects polarization data at higher frequencies have been obtained
allowing Faraday rotation analysis. Distorted magnetic field structures were
identified in all galaxies. Interaction-induced magnetized outflows were found
in NGC 4438 (due to nuclear activity) and NGC 4654 (a combination of tidal
tails and ram pressure effects). Almost all objects (except the anaemic NGC
4548) exhibit distortions in polarized radio continuum attributable to
influence of the ambient gas. For some galaxies they agree with observations of
other species, but sometimes (NGC 4535) the magnetic field is the only tracer
of the interaction with the cluster environment. The cluster environment
clearly affects the evolution of the galaxies due to ram pressure and tidal
effects. Magnetic fields provide a very long-lasting memory of past
interactions. Therefore, they are a good tracer of weak interactions which are
difficult to detect by other observations.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figure
The characteristic polarized radio continuum distribution of cluster spiral galaxies
Deep observations of 6cm polarized radio continuum emission of 8 Virgo spiral
galaxies are presented. All galaxies show strongly asymmetric distributions of
polarized intensity with elongated ridges located in the outer galactic disk.
Such features are not found in existing observations of polarized radio
continuum emission of field spiral galaxies, where the distribution of 6cm
polarized intensity is generally relatively symmetric and strongest in the
interarm regions. We therefore conclude that most Virgo spiral galaxies and
most probably the majority of cluster spiral galaxies show asymmetric
distributions of polarized radio continuum emission due to their interaction
with the cluster environment. The polarized continuum emission is sensitive to
compression and shear motions in the plane of the sky and thus contains
important information about velocity distortions caused by these interactions.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, A&A accepted as a lette
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