492 research outputs found
The SDSS-GALEX viewpoint of the truncated red sequence in field environments at z~0
We combine GALEX near-UV photometry with a volume-limited sample of local
(0.005<z<0.037) SDSS DR4 galaxies to examine the composition and the
environmental dependencies of the optical and UV-optical colour-magnitude (C-M)
diagrams. We find that ~30% of red sequence galaxies in the optical C-M diagram
show signs of ongoing star-formation from their spectra having EW(Halpha)>2A.
This contamination is greatest at faint magnitudes (Mr>-19) and in field
regions where as many as three-quarters of red sequence galaxies are
star-forming, and as such has important consequences for following the build-up
of the red sequence. We find that the NUV-r colour instead allows a much more
robust separation of passively-evolving and star-forming galaxies, which allows
the build-up of the UV-selected red sequence with redshift and environment to
be directly interpreted in terms of the assembly of stellar mass in
passively-evolving galaxies. We find that in isolated field regions the number
density of UV-optical red sequence galaxies declines rapidly at magnitudes
fainter than Mr~-19 and appears completely truncated at Mr~-18. This confirms
the findings of Haines et al. (2007) that no passively-evolving dwarf galaxies
are found more than two virial radii from a massive halo, whether that be a
group, cluster or massive galaxy. These results support the downsizing paradigm
whereby the red sequence is assembled from the top down, being already largely
in place at the bright end by z~1, and the faint end filled in at later epochs
in clusters and groups through environment-related processes such as
ram-pressure stripping or galaxy harassment.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, MNRAS submitte
Structure and kinematics of the peculiar galaxy NGC 128
This is a multiband photometric and spectroscopic study of the peculiar S0
galaxy NGC128. We present results from broad (B and R) and narrow band optical
CCD photometry, near (NIR) and far (FIR) infrared observations, long slit
spectroscopy, and Fabry-Perot interferometry (CIGALE). The peculiar peanut
shape morphology of the galaxy is observed both at optical and near-infrared
wavelengths. The stellar disk is thick and distorted (arc-bended), with a color
asymmetry along the major axis due to the presence of a large amount of dust,
estimated through NIR and FIR data of ~6x10^6 M_sun, in the region of
interaction with the companion galaxy NGC127. The color maps are nearly uniform
over the whole galaxy, but for the major axis asymmetry, and a small gradient
toward the center indicating the presence of a redder disk-like component. The
H_alpha image indeed reveals the existence of a tilted gaseous ``disk'' around
the center, oriented with the major axis toward the companion galaxy NGC127.
Long slit and CIGALE data confirm the presence of gas in a disk-like component
counter-rotating and inclined approximately of 50 deg. to the line of sight.
The mass of the gas disk in the inner region is ~2.7x10^4 M_sun. The stellar
velocity field is cylindrical up to the last measured points of the derived
rotation curves, while the velocity dispersion profiles are typical for an S0
galaxy, but for an extended constant behaviour along the minor axis.Comment: accepted for pubblication in A&A Supp
Structure and Evolution of Galaxy Clusters: Internal Dynamics of ABCG 209 at z~0.21
We study the internal dynamics of the rich galaxy cluster ABGC 209 on the
basis of new spectroscopic and photometric data. The distribution in redshift
shows that ABCG 209 is a well isolated peak of 112 detected member galaxies at
z=0.209, characterised by a high value of the line-of-sight velocity
dispersion, sigma_v=1250-1400 Km/s, on the whole observed area (1 Mpc/h from
the cluster center), that leads to a virial mass of M=1.6-2.2x10^15 M_sun
within the virial radius, assuming the dynamical equilibrium. The presence of a
velocity gradient in the velocity field, the elongation in the spatial
distribution of the colour-selected likely cluster members, the elongation of
the X-ray contour levels in the Chandra image, and the elongation of cD galaxy
show that ABCG 209 is characterised by a preferential NW-SE direction. We also
find a significant deviation of the velocity distribution from a Gaussian, and
relevant evidence of substructure and dynamical segregation. All these facts
show that ABCG 209 is a strongly evolving cluster, possibly in an advanced
phase of merging.Comment: 26 pages, 14 figures. A&A in pres
Shapley Supercluster Survey: Ram-Pressure Stripping vs. Tidal Interactions in the Shapley Supercluster
We present two new examples of galaxies undergoing transformation in the
Shapley supercluster core. These low-mass (stellar mass from 0.4E10 to 1E10
Msun) galaxies are members of the two clusters SC-1329-313 (z=0.045) and
SC-1327-312 (z=0.049). Integral-field spectroscopy complemented by imaging in
ugriK bands and in Halpha narrow-band are used to disentangle the effects of
tidal interaction (TI) and ram-pressure stripping (RPS). In both galaxies,
SOS-61086 and SOS-90630, we observe one-sided extraplanar ionized gas extending
respectively 30kpc and 41kpc in projection from their disks. The galaxies'
gaseous disks are truncated and the kinematics of the stellar and gas
components are decoupled, supporting the RPS scenario. The emission of the
ionized gas extends in the direction of a possible companion for both galaxies
suggesting a TI. The overall gas velocity field of SOS-61086 is reproduced by
ad hoc N-body/hydrodynamical simulations of RPS acting almost face-on and
starting about 250Myr ago, consistent with the age of the young stellar
populations. A link between the observed gas stripping and the cluster-cluster
interaction experienced by SC-1329-313 and A3562 is suggested. Simulations of
ram pressure acting almost edge-on are able to fully reproduce the gas velocity
field of SOS-90630, but cannot at the same time reproduce the extended tail of
outflowing gas. This suggests that an additional disturbance from a TI is
required. This study adds a piece of evidence that RPS may take place in
different environments with different impacts and witnesses the possible effect
of cluster-cluster merger on RPS.Comment: 27 pages, 28 figures, MNRAS accepte
The Different Environmental Dependencies of Star-formation for Giant and Dwarf Galaxies
We examine the origins of the bimodality observed in the global properties of
galaxies around a stellar mass of 3x10^10 M_sun by comparing the environmental
dependencies of star-formation for the giant and dwarf galaxy populations. The
Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR4 spectroscopic dataset is used to produce a sample
of galaxies in the vicinity of the supercluster centered on the cluster A2199
at z=0.03 that is ~90% complete to a magnitude limit of M*+3.3. From these we
measure global trends with environment for both giant (M_r<-20 mag) and dwarf
(-19<M_r<-17.8 mag) subsamples using the luminosity-weighted mean stellar age
and H_alpha emission as independent measures of star-formation history. The
fraction of giant galaxies classed as old (t>7 Gyr) or passive (EW[H_alpha]<4
A) falls gradually from ~80% in the cluster cores to ~40% in field regions
beyond 3-4 R_virial, as found in previous studies. In contrast, we find that
the dwarf galaxy population shows a sharp transition at ~1 R_virial, from being
predominantly old/passive within the cluster, to outside where virtually all
galaxies are forming stars and old/passive galaxies are only found as
satellites to more massive galaxies. These results imply fundamental
differences in the evolution of giant and dwarf galaxies: whereas the
star-formation histories of giant galaxies are determined primarily by their
merger history, star-formation in dwarf galaxies is much more resilient to the
effects of major mergers. Instead dwarf galaxies become passive only once they
become satellites within a more massive halo, by losing their halo gas
reservoir to the host halo, or through other environment-related processes such
as galaxy harassment and/or ram-pressure stripping.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
ACCESS - V. Dissecting ram-pressure stripping through integral-field spectroscopy and multi-band imaging
We study the case of a bright (L>L*) barred spiral galaxy from the rich
cluster A3558 in the Shapley supercluster core (z=0.05) undergoing ram-pressure
stripping. Integral-field spectroscopy, complemented by multi-band imaging,
allows us to reveal the impact of ram pressure on the interstellar medium. We
study in detail the kinematics and the physical conditions of the ionized gas
and the properties of the stellar populations. We observe one-sided extraplanar
ionized gas along the full extent of the galaxy disc. Narrow-band Halpha
imaging resolves this outflow into a complex of knots and filaments. The gas
velocity field is complex with the extraplanar gas showing signature of
rotation. In all parts of the galaxy, we find a significant contribution from
shock excitation, as well as emission powered by star formation. Shock-ionized
gas is associated with the turbulent gas outflow and highly attenuated by dust.
All these findings cover the whole phenomenology of early-stage ram-pressure
stripping. Intense, highly obscured star formation is taking place in the
nucleus, probably related to the bar, and in a region 12 kpc South-West from
the centre. In the SW region we identify a starburst characterized by a 5x
increase in the star-formation rate over the last ~100 Myr, possibly related to
the compression of the interstellar gas by the ram pressure. The scenario
suggested by the observations is supported and refined by ad hoc
N-body/hydrodynamical simulations which identify a rather narrow temporal range
for the onset of ram-pressure stripping around t~60 Myr ago, and an angle
between the galaxy rotation axis and the intra-cluster medium wind of ~45 deg.
Taking into account that the galaxy is found ~1 Mpc from the cluster centre in
a relatively low-density region, this study shows that ram-pressure stripping
still acts efficiently on massive galaxies well outside the cluster cores.Comment: 46 pages, 21 figures, accepted for publication; MNRAS 201
UV--NIR Restframe Luminosity Functions of the Galaxy Cluster EIS0048 at z~0.64
We derive the galaxy luminosity functions in V, R, I, and K bands of the
cluster EIS 0048 at z~0.64 from data taken at the ESO Very Large Telescope. The
data span the restframe wavelength range from UV, which is sensitive to even
low rates of star formation, to the NIR, which maps the bulk of the stellar
mass. By comparing our data and previous results with pure luminosity evolution
models, we conclude that bright (M<= M^*+1) cluster galaxies are already
assembled at z~1 and that star formation is almost completed at z~1.5.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures. A&A accepte
Evolution of UV -- NIR Structural Properties of Cluster Galaxies
Structural parameters (half light radius r_e, mean surface brightness _e and Sersic index n) are derived for the galaxy cluster A 209, at z = 0.21, in UV and optical restframe, and for the cluster EIS 0048, at z = 0.64, in UV, optical and NIR restframe. This data set, together with previous optical and NIR measurements for the cluster AC 118 at z=0.31}, constitutes the first large sample (N~250) of cluster galaxies whose UV - NIR structure can be investigated up to a look-back time of ~6 Gyr (Omega_m=0.3, Omega_L=0.7 and H_0=70 Km/s/Mpc). The analysis is performed (1) by direct comparison of log r_e, and log n, in UV-OPT and OPT-NIR, and (2) by using the structural parameters to estimate UV-OPT and OPT-NIR internal colour gradients of galaxies. We classify the galaxies as spheroids or disks according to the shape of the optical light profile of galaxies, and investigate separately the evolution in the properties of both populations. On the average, we find that the bulk of spheroids and disks are more concentrated at longer wavelengths, having Delta(log r_e) > 0, and Delta(log n) < 0. The mean value of Delta(log n) in OPT-NIR seems to be the quantity more dependent on z, in the sense that it decreases at higher redshift. In particular, we find a strong decrease in the ratio of OPT to NIR Sersic indices for the disks at z~0.64. By comparing the estimated colour gradients (grad(UV-OPT) and grad(OPT-NIR)) with age and metallicity models, we find that, for the spheroids, both grad(UV-OPT) and grad(OPT-NIR) are weakly dependent on the redshift, confirming that metallicity is the primary effect to drive the gradients. For the disks, metallicity is not able at all to describe the observed range of colour gradients. Age or age+metallicity are responsible for the radial colour distribution of disk dominated galaxies
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