187 research outputs found
Revised positions for the CIG galaxies
We present revised positions for the 1051 galaxies belonging to the
Karachentseva Catalog of Isolated Galaxies (CIG). New positions were calculated
by applying SExtractor to the Digitized Sky Survey CIG fields with a spatial
resolution of 1.2''. We visually checked the results and for 118 galaxies had
to recompute the assigned positions due to complex morphologies (e.g. distorted
isophotes, undefined nuclei, knotty galaxies) or the presence of bright stars.
We found differences between older and newer positions of up to 38'' with a
mean value of 2.96'' relative to SIMBAD and up to 38'' and 2.42'' respectively
relative to UZC. Based on star positions from the APM catalog we determined
that the DSS astrometry of five CIG fields has a mean offset in (RA, Dec) of
(-0.90'',0.93'') with a dispersion of 0.4''. These results have been confirmed
using the 2MASS All-Sky Catalog of Point Sources. The intrinsic errors of our
method combined with the astrometric ones are of the order of 0.5''.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A. The data can be
downloaded at http://www.iaa.csic.es/AMIGA.htm
DETECTION OF DIFFUSE NEUTRAL INTRAGROUP MEDIUM IN HICKSON COMPACT GROUPS
We present new Green Bank Telescope (GBT) 21 cm neutral hydrogen (H I) observations of a complete distance-limited sample of 22 Hickson Compact Groups (HCGs) with at least four true members. We detected an average H I mass of 8 × 109 M (median = 6 × 109 M ), which is significantly larger than previous single-dish measurements. Consequently, the H I deficiencies for these HCGs have been reduced, although not completely eliminated. Spectral comparison of the GBT data with complementary Very Large Array data shows significant H I excess in the GBT spectra. The observed excess is primarily due to the high surface brightness (HSB) sensitivity of the GBT detecting diffuse, low column density H I in these groups. The excess gas forms a faint diffused neutral medium which is an intermediate stage in the evolution of HSB H I tidal debris in the intragroup medium (IGM) before it is fully ionized. The excess gas mass fraction, (M(H I)GBT – M(H I)VLA)/M(H I)GBT, for our complete sample varies from 5% to 81% with an average of 36% (median = 30%). The excess gas mass fraction is highest in slightly H I deficient groups where the tidal debris has had enough time to evolve. We also find the excess gas content increases with the evolutionary phase of the group described in Verdes-Montenegro et al. Theoretical calculations indicate that an H I cloud of radius ≥ 200 pc would survive in an IGM of 2 × 106 K for more than the typical dynamical lifetime of a group. However, smaller clouds get evaporated and assimilated into the hot IGM in a much shorter timescale
The AMIGA sample of isolated galaxies: VIII. The rate of asymmetric HI profiles in spiral galaxies
(abridged) Measures of the HI properties of a galaxy are among the most
sensitive interaction diagnostic at our disposal. We report here on a study of
HI profile asymmetries (e.g., lopsidedness) in a sample of some of the most
isolated galaxies in the local Universe. This presents us with an excellent
opportunity to quantify the range of intrinsic HI asymmetries and provides us
with a zero-point calibration for evaluating these measurements in less
isolated samples. We characterize the HI profile asymmetries and search for
correlations between HI asymmetry and their environments, as well as their
optical and far infrared (FIR) properties. We use high signal-to-noise global
HI profiles for galaxies in the AMIGA project (http://amiga.iaa.csic.es). We
restrict our study to N=166 galaxies with accurate measures of the HI shape
properties. We quantify asymmetries using a flux ratio parameter. The asymmetry
parameter distribution of our isolated sample is well described by a Gaussian
model. The width of the distribution is sigma=0.13, and could be even smaller
(sigma=0.11) if instrumental errors are reduced. Only 2% of our carefully
vetted isolated galaxies sample show an asymmetry in excess of 3sigma. By using
this sample we minimize environmental effects as confirmed by the lack of
correlation between HI asymmetry and tidal force (one-on-one interactions) and
neighbor galaxy number density. On the other hand, field galaxy samples show
wider distributions and deviate from a Gaussian curve. As a result we find
higher asymmetry rates (~10-20%) in such samples. We find evidence that the
spiral arm strength is inversely correlated with the HI asymmetry. We also find
an excess of FIR luminous galaxies with larger HI asymmetries that may be
spirals associated with hidden accretion events. Our sample presents the
smallest fraction of asymmetric HI profiles compared with any other yet
studied.Comment: 18 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Gipsy 3D: Analysis, Visualization and Vo-Tools
The scientific goals of the AMIGA project are based on the analysis of a
significant amount of spectroscopic 3D data. In order to perform this work we
present an initiative to develop a new VO compliant package, including present
core applications and tasks offered by the Groningen Image Processing System
(GIPSY), and new ones based on use cases elaborated in collaboration with ad-
vanced users. One of the main goals is to provide local interoperability
between GIPSY (visualization and data analysis) and other VO software. The
connectivity with the Virtual Observatory environment will provide general
access to 3D data VO archives and services, maximizing the potential for
scientific discovery.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the proceedings of the
"Multi-wavelength Astronomy and Virtual Observatory" Workshop held at ESAC
1-3 Dec 200
Chemistry in isolation: High CCH/HCO+ line ratio in the AMIGA galaxy CIG 638
Multi-molecule observations towards an increasing variety of galaxies have
been showing that the relative molecular abundances are affected by the type of
activity. However, these studies are biased towards bright active galaxies,
which are typically in interaction. We study the molecular composition of one
of the most isolated galaxies in the local Universe where the physical and
chemical properties of their molecular clouds have been determined by intrinsic
mechanisms. We present 3 mm broad band observations of the galaxy CIG 638,
extracted from the AMIGA sample of isolated galaxies. The emission of the J=1-0
transitions of CCH, HCN, HCO+, and HNC are detected. Integrated intensity
ratios between these line are compared with similar observations from the
literature towards active galaxies including starburst galaxies (SB), active
galactic nuclei (AGN), luminous infrared galaxies (LIRG), and GMCs in M33. A
significantly high ratio of CCH with respect to HCN, HCO+, and HNC is found
towards CIG 638 when compared with all other galaxies where these species have
been detected. This points to either an overabundance of CCH or to a relative
lack of dense molecular gas as supported by the low HCN/CO ratio, or both. The
data suggest that the CIG 638 is naturally a less perturbed galaxy where a
lower fraction of dense molecular gas, as well as a more even distribution
could explain the measured ratios. In this scenario the dense gas tracers would
be naturally dimmer, while the UV enhanced CCH, would be overproduced in a less
shielded medium.Comment: Letter accepted for publication in A&
- …