259 research outputs found
Pairwise dwarf galaxy formation and galaxy downsizing: some clues from extremely metal-poor Blue Compact Dwarf galaxies
Some of the extremely metal-poor Blue Compact Dwarf galaxies (XBCDs) in the
nearby universe form galaxy pairs with remarkably similar properties. This fact
points to an intriguing degree of synchronicity in the formation history of
these binary dwarf galaxies and raises the question as to whether some of them
form and co-evolve pairwise (or in loose galaxy groups), experiencing recurrent
mild interactions and minor tidally induced star formation episodes throughout
their evolution. We argue that this hypothesis offers a promising conceptual
framework for the exploration of the retarded previous evolution and recent
dominant formation phase of XBCDs.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the JENAM 2010 Symposium "Dwarf
Galaxies: Keys to Galaxy Formation and Evolution" (Lisbon, 9-10 September
2010), P. Papaderos, S. Recchi, G. Hensler (eds.), Springer Verlag (2011), in
pres
The continuous rise of bulges out of galactic disks
(abridged) This study revolves around dmB, a new distance- and
extinction-independent measure of the contribution by stellar populations older
than 9 Gyr to the mean r-band surface brightness of the bulge component in 135
late-type galaxies (LTGs) from the CALIFA survey, spanning a range of 2.6 dex
and 3 dex in total and bulge stellar mass (M*T~10^(8.9-11.5) M_solar and
M*B~10^(8.3-11.3) M_solar, respectively). The main insight from this study is
that LTG bulges form a continuous sequence of increasing dmB with increasing
M*T, M*B, stellar mass surface density S* and mass-weighted age and
metallicity: high-dmB bulges are the oldest, densest and most massive ones, and
vice versa. Furthermore, we find that the bulge-to-disk age and metallicity
contrast, as well as the bulge-to-disk mass ratio increase with M*T, raising
from, respectively, ~0 Gyr, 0 dex and 0.25 to ~3 Gyr, ~0.3 dex and 0.67 across
the mass range covered by our sample. Whereas gas excitation in lower-mass
bulges is invariably dominated by star formation (SF), LINER- and
Seyfert-specific emission-line ratios were exclusively documented in high-mass,
high-S* bulges. The continuity both in the properties of LTG bulges themselves
and in their age and metallicity contrast to their parent disks suggests that
these components evolve alongside in a concurrent process that leads to a
continuum of physical and evolutionary characteristics. Our results are
consistent with a picture where bulge growth in LTGs is driven by a
superposition of quick-early and slow-secular processes, the relative
importance of which increases with M*T. These processes, which presumably
combine in situ SF in the bulge and inward migration of material from the disk,
are expected to lead to a non-homologous radial growth of S* and a trend for an
increasing Sersic index with increasing galaxy mass.Comment: 24 pages, accepted for publication in A&
Chandra Observations of the Three Most Metal-Deficient Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies known in the Local Universe, SBS 0335-052, SBS 0335-052W, and I Zw 18
We present an X-ray study of the three most metal-deficient blue compact
dwarf (BCD) galaxies known in the local Universe, based on deep Chandra
observations of SBS 0335-052 (0.025 solar abundance), SBS 0335-052W (0.02 solar
abundance) and I Zw 18 (0.02 solar abundance). All three are detected, with
more than 90% of their X-ray emission arising from point-like sources. The
0.5-10.0 keV luminosities of these point sources are in the range
(1.3-8.5)x1e39 erg/s. We interpret them to be single or a collection of
high-mass X-ray binaries, the luminosities of which may have been enhanced by
the low metallicity of the gas. There are hints of faint extended diffuse X-ray
emission in both SBS 0335-052 and I Zw 18, probably associated with the
superbubbles visible in both BCDs. The spectrum of I Zw 18 shows a OVIII
hydrogen-like emission line. The best spectral fit gives an O overabundance of
the gas in the X-ray point source by a factor of ~7 with respect to the Sun, or
a factor of ~350 with respect to the O abundance determined for the HII region.Comment: emulateapj.cls used, 7 pages, 7 figures + 1 table, accepted for
publication in Ap
Luminous Compact Blue Galaxies up to z~1 in the HST Ultra Deep Field: I. Small galaxies, or blue centers of massive disks?
We analyze 26 Luminous Compact Blue Galaxies (LCBGs) in the HST/ACS Ultra
Deep Field (UDF) at z ~ 0.2-1.3, to determine whether these are truly small
galaxies, or rather bright central starbursts within existing or forming large
disk galaxies. Surface brightness profiles from UDF images reach fainter than
rest-frame 26.5 B mag/arcsec^2 even for compact objects at z~1. Most LCBGs show
a smaller, brighter component that is likely star-forming, and an extended,
roughly exponential component with colors suggesting stellar ages >~ 100 Myr to
few Gyr. Scale lengths of the extended components are mostly >~ 2 kpc, >1.5-2
times smaller than those of nearby large disk galaxies like the Milky Way.
Larger, very low surface brightness disks can be excluded down to faint
rest-frame surface brightnesses (>~ 26 B mag/arcsec^2). However, 1 or 2 of the
LCBGs are large, disk-like galaxies that meet LCBG selection criteria due to a
bright central nucleus, possibly a forming bulge. These results indicate that
>~ 90% of high-z LCBGs are small galaxies that will evolve into small disk
galaxies, and low mass spheroidal or irregular galaxies in the local Universe,
assuming passive evolution and no significant disk growth. The data do not
reveal signs of disk formation around small, HII-galaxy-like LCBGs, and do not
suggest a simple inside-out growth scenario for larger LCBGs with a disk-like
morphology. Irregular blue emission in distant LCBGs is relatively extended,
suggesting that nebular emission lines from star-forming regions sample a major
fraction of an LCBG's velocity field.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, AASTeX; accepted for publication in
Astrophysical Journal Letter
SBS 0335-052E+W: deep VLT/FORS+UVES spectroscopy of the pair of the lowest-metallicity blue compact dwarf galaxies
(abridged) We present deep archival VLT/FORS1+UVES spectroscopic observations
of the system of two blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies SBS 0335-052E and SBS
0335-052W. Our aim is to derive element abundances in different HII regions of
this unique system of galaxies and to study spatial abundance variations. We
determine abundances of helium, nitrogen, oxygen, neon, sulfur, chlorine, argon
and iron. The oxygen abundance in the brighter eastern galaxy varies in the
range 7.11 to 7.32 in different HII regions supporting previous findings and
suggesting the presence of oxygen abundance variations on spatial scales of
~1-2 kpc. The oxygen abundance in the brightest region No.1 of SBS 0335-052W is
7.22+/-0.07, consistent with previous determinations.Three other HII regions
are much more metal-poor with an unprecedently low oxygen abundance of
12+logO/H=7.01+/-0.07 (region No.2), 6.98+/-0.06 (region No.3), and 6.86+/-0.14
(region No.4). These are the lowest oxygen abundances ever derived in
emission-line galaxies. Helium abundances derived for the brightest HII regions
of both galaxies are mutually consistent. We derive weighted mean He mass
fractions of 0.2485+/-0.0012 and 0.2514+/-0.0012 for two different sets of HeI
emissivities. The N/O abundance ratio in both galaxies is slightly higher than
that derived for other BCDs with 12+logO/H<7.6. This implies that the N/O in
extremely metal-deficient galaxies could increase with decreasing metallicity.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, accepted for pulication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
On the properties of the interstellar medium in extremely metal-poor blue compact dwarf galaxies: GMOS-IFU spectroscopy and SDSS photometry of the double-knot galaxy HS 2236+1344
The main goal of this study is to carry out a spatially resolved
investigation of the warm interstellar medium (ISM) in the extremely metal-poor
Blue Compact Dwarf (BCD) galaxy HS 2236+1344. Special emphasis is laid on the
analysis of the spatial distribution of chemical abundances, emission-line
ratios and kinematics of the ISM, and to the recent star-forming activity in
this galaxy. This study is based on optical integral field unit spectroscopy
data from Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph at the Gemini North telescope and
archival Sloan Digital Sky Survey images. The data were obtained in two
different positions across the galaxy, obtaining a total 4 arcsec X 8 arcsec
field which encompasses most of its ISM. Emission-line maps and broad-band
images obtained in this study indicate that HS 2236+1344 hosts three Giant HII
regions. Our data also reveal some faint curved features in the BCD periphery
that might be due to tidal perturbations or expanding ionized-gas shells. The
ISM velocity field shows systematic gradients along the major axis of the BCD,
with its south-eastern and north-western half differing by ~80 km/s in their
recessional velocity. The Ha and Hb equivalent width distribution in the
central part of HS 2236+1344 is consistent with a very young (~3 Myr) burst.
Our surface photometry analysis indicates that the ongoing starburst provides
~50% of the total optical emission, similar to other BCDs. It also reveals an
underlying lower-surface brightness component with moderately red colors, which
suggest that the galaxy has undergone previous star formation. We derive an
integrated oxygen abundance of 12+log(O/H)=7.53\pm0.06 and a nitrogen-to-oxygen
ratio of log(N/O)=-1.57\pm0.19. Our results are consistent, within the
uncertainties, with a homogeneous distribution of oxygen and nitrogen within
the ISM of the galaxy. (abridged)Comment: 15 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in A&
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