3,937 research outputs found
Rotation curves and metallicity gradients from HII regions in spiral galaxies
In this paper we study long slit spectra in the region of H emission
line of a sample of 111 spiral galaxies with recognizable and well defined
spiral morphology and with a well determined environmental status, ranging from
isolation to non-disruptive interaction with satellites or companions. The form
and properties of the rotation curves are considered as a function of the
isolation degree, morphological type and luminosity. The line ratios are used
to estimate the metallicity of all the detected HII regions, thus producing a
composite metallicity profile for different types of spirals. We have found
that isolated galaxies tend to be of later types and lower luminosity than the
interacting galaxies. The outer parts of the rotation curves of isolated
galaxies tend to be flatter than in interacting galaxies, but they show similar
relations between global parameters. The scatter of the Tully-Fisher relation
defined by isolated galaxies is significantly lower than that of interacting
galaxies. The [NII]/H ratios, used as metallicity indicator, show a
clear trend between Z and morphological type, t, with earlier spirals showing
larger ratios; this trend is tighter when instead of t the gradient of the
inner rotation curve, G, is used; no trend is found with the interaction
status. The Z-gradient of the disks depends on the type, being almost flat for
early spirals, and increasing for later types. The [NII]/H ratios
measured for disk HII regions of interacting galaxies are higher than for
normal/isolated objects, even if all the galaxy families present similar
distributions of H Equivalent Width.Comment: accepted for publication in A&A (tables for HII region parameters
incomplete, contact [email protected] for the whole set of tables
Evolution of Galaxy morphologies in Clusters
We have studied the evolution of galaxian morphologies from ground-based,
good-seeing images of 9 clusters at z=0.09-0.25. The comparison of our data
with those relative to higher redshift clusters (Dressler et al. 1997) allowed
us to trace for the first time the evolution of the morphological mix at a
look-back time of 2-4 Gyr, finding a dependence of the observed evolutionary
trends on the cluster properties.Comment: 4 pages with 2 figures in Latex-Kluwer style. To be published in the
proceedings of the Granada Euroconference "The Evolution of
Galaxies.I-Observational Clues
Improving Dental Experiences by Using Virtual Reality Distraction: A Simulation Study
Dental anxiety creates significant problems for both patients and the dental profession. Some distraction interventions are already used by healthcare professionals to help patients cope with unpleasant procedures. The present study is novel because it a) builds on evidence that natural scenery is beneficial for patients, and b) uses a Virtual Reality (VR) representation of nature to distract participants. Extending previous work that has investigated pain and anxiety during treatment, c) we also consider the longer term effects in terms of more positive memories of the treatment, building on a cognitive theory of memory (Elaborated Intrusions). Participants (n = 69) took part in a simulated dental experience and were randomly assigned to one of three VR conditions (active vs. passive vs. control). In addition, participants were distinguished into high and low dentally anxious according to a median split resulting in a 362 between-subjects design. VR distraction in a simulated dental context affected memories a week later. The VR distraction had effects not only on concurrent experiences, such as perceived control, but longitudinally upon the vividness of memories after the dental experience had ended. Participants with higher dental anxiety (for whom the dental procedures were presumably more aversive) showed a greater reduction in memory vividness than lower dental-anxiety participants. This study thus suggests that VR distractions can be considered as a relevant intervention for cycles of care in which peopleâs previous experiences affect their behaviour for future events
The Peculiar Balmer Line Profiles of OQ 208
We present spectrophotometric observations of the Broad Line Radio Galaxy OQ
208 (Mrk 668, 1404+286) obtained between 1985 and 1991. We show that the Balmer
line fluxes and profile shapes undergo remarkable changes. The ratio of
intensities between the broad and narrow components of Hbeta increased
monotonically from 15 in 1985 to 40 in 1991. The peak of the broad components
of Hbeta and Halpha were known to be strongly displaced to the red. We have
discovered a correlation between the amplitude of the broad peak displacement
and the luminosity of Hbeta, in the sense that the displacement is larger when
the line luminosity is higher. We suggest that the observations are not
compatible with either a binary Broad Line Region model or one involving
ballistic acceleration of the line emitting gas. Radiative acceleration of a
system of outflowing clouds readily explains the correlation between line shift
and luminosity as well as the peculiar line profiles. Furthermore, it seems
that most or all of the Balmer emission originates from the inward face of the
clouds. Theoretical line profiles suggest that the observed Hbeta profile is
best fit assuming the contribution of an ensemble which might be spherical or
confined in a thick disk in addition to a component emitted in a thin shell
contained in a cone of half opening angle 12 degrees seen along its axis.Comment: 28 pages + tables and figures available upon request, Latex, No
preprint numbe
Star Forming Objects in the Tidal Tails of Compact Groups
A search for star forming objects belonging to tidal tails has been carried
out in a sample of deep Halpha images of 16 compact groups of galaxies. A total
of 36 objects with Halpha luminosity larger than 10^38 erg s-1 have been
detected in five groups. The fraction of the total Halpha luminosity of their
respective parent galaxies shown by the tidal objects is always below 5% except
for the tidal features of HCG95, whose Halpha luminosity amounts to 65% of the
total luminosity. Out of this 36 objects, 9 star forming tidal dwarf galaxy
candidates have been finally identified on the basis of their projected
distances to the nuclei of the parent galaxies and their total Halpha
luminosities. Overall, the observed properties of the candidates resemble those
previously reported for the so-called tidal dwarf galaxies.Comment: 5 gif figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journa
Near-infrared photometry of isolated spirals with and without an AGN. I: The Data
We present infrared imaging data in the J and K' bands obtained for 18 active
spiral galaxies, together with 11 non active galaxies taken as a control
sample. All of them were chosen to satisfy well defined isolation criteria so
that the observed properties are not related to gravitational interaction. For
each object we give: the image in the K' band, the sharp-divided image
(obtained by dividing the observed image by a filtered one), the difference
image (obtained by subtracting a model to the observed one), the color J-K'
image, the ellipticity and position angle profiles, the surface brightness
profiles in J and K', their fits by bulge+disk models and the color gradient.
We have found that four (one) active (control) galaxies previously classified
as non-barred turn out to have bars when observed in the near-infrared. One of
these four galaxies (UGC 1395) also harbours a secondary bar. For 15 (9 active,
6 control) out of 24 (14 active, 10 control) of the optically classified barred
galaxies (SB or SX) we find that a secondary bar (or a disk, a lense or an
elongated ring) is present. The work presented here is part of a large program
(DEGAS) aimed at finding whether there are differences between active and non
active galaxies in the properties of their central regions that could be
connected with the onset of nuclear activity.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics Supplement
Serie
The dynamical status of Stephan's Quintet
Multiwavelength data for Stephan's Quintet (SQ) are consistent with the
following model for this compact galaxy group. (1) Discordant redshift NGC 7320
is an unrelated foreground galaxy. (2) In the past SQ was an accordant redshift
quartet involving NGC 7317, 18A, 19 and 20C. NGC 7320C collided (probably not
for the first time) with the group a few times 10 years ago and stripped
the interstellar matter from NGC 7319. (3) In the present SQ is again an
accordant quartet involving NGC 7317, 18A,B, and 19. NGC 7318B is now entering
the group at high velocity for the first time, giving rise to a shock zone. If
most compact groups are like SQ, then they are frequently visited by infalling
n eighbors that perturb the group and themselves. SQ represents strong evidence
for secondary infall in a small group environment. Tidal stripping reduces the
mass of the infalling galaxies, thereby increasing the timescale for their
orbital decay. There is little evidence that these high velocity ``intruders''
are rapidly captured and/or merge with the system. Instead they are the
mechanism that sustains compact groups against collapse. Efficient gas
stripping may account for the low star formation rate observed in compact
groups and infall of residual gas into galactic nuclei may also foster the
onset of AGN activity.Comment: 5 pages, 2x3 figures, to be published in ApJ Letter
- âŠ