107 research outputs found
PAIRWISE VELOCITIES OF GALAXIES IN THE CFA AND SSRS2 REDSHIFT SURVEYS
(compressed version) We combine the CfA Redshift Survey (CfA2) and the
Southern Sky Redshift Survey (SSRS2) to estimate the pairwise velocity
dispersion of galaxies \sig12 on a scale of \sim 1 \hmpc. Both surveys are
complete to an apparent magnitude limit . Our sample includes 12,812
galaxies distributed in a volume 1.8 \times 10^6 \hmpc3. We conclude: 1) The
pairwise velocity dispersion of galaxies in the combined CfA2+SSRS2 redshift
survey is \sig12=540 \kms \pm 180 \kms. Both the estimate and the variance of
\sig12 significantly exceed the canonical values \sig12=340 \pm40 measured
by Davis \& Peebles (1983) using CfA1. 2) We derive the uncertainty in \sig12
from the variation among subsamples with volumes on the order of \hmpc3. This variation is nearly an order of magnitude larger than the
formal error, 36 \kms, derived using least-squares fits to the CfA2+SSRS2
correlation function. This variation among samples is consistent with the
conclusions of Mo \etal (1993) for a number of smaller surveys and with the
analysis of CfA1 by Zurek \etal (1994). 3) When we remove Abell clusters with
from our sample, the pairwise velocity dispersion of the remaining
galaxies drops to 295 \pm 99 \kms. Thus the dominant source of variance in
\sig12 is the shot noise contributed by dense virialized systems. 4) The
distribution of pairwise velocities is consistent with an isotropic exponential
with velocity dispersion independent of scale.Comment: 61 pages uuencoded, compressed postscript in 5 pieces. Also available
in one piece at http://www.dao.nrc.ca/DAO/SCIENCE/science.htm
New Techniques for Relating Dynamically Close Galaxy Pairs to Merger and Accretion Rates : Application to the SSRS2 Redshift Survey
We introduce two new pair statistics, which relate close galaxy pairs to the
merger and accretion rates. We demonstrate the importance of correcting these
(and other) pair statistics for selection effects related to sample depth and
completeness. In particular, we highlight the severe bias that can result from
the use of a flux-limited survey. The first statistic, denoted N_c, gives the
number of companions per galaxy, within a specified range in absolute
magnitude. N_c is directly related to the galaxy merger rate. The second
statistic, called L_c, gives the total luminosity in companions, per galaxy.
This quantity can be used to investigate the mass accretion rate. Both N_c and
L_c are related to the galaxy correlation function and luminosity function in a
straightforward manner. We outline techniques which account for various
selection effects, and demonstrate the success of this approach using Monte
Carlo simulations. If one assumes that clustering is independent of luminosity
(which is appropriate for reasonable ranges in luminosity), then these
statistics may be applied to flux-limited surveys.
These techniques are applied to a sample of 5426 galaxies in the SSRS2
redshift survey. Using close dynamical pairs, we find N_c(-21<M_B<-18) =
0.0226+/-0.0052 and L_c(-21<M_B<-18) = 0.0216+/-0.0055 10^{10} h^2 L_sun at
z=0.015. These are the first secure estimates of low-z close pair statistics.
If N_c remains fixed with redshift, simple assumptions imply that ~ 6.6% of
present day galaxies with -21<M_B<-18 have undergone mergers since z=1. When
applied to redshift surveys of more distant galaxies, these techniques will
yield the first robust estimates of evolution in the galaxy merger and
accretion rates. [Abridged]Comment: 26 pages (including 10 postscript figures) plus 3 gif figures.
Accepted for publication in ApJ. Paper (including full resolution images)
also available at http://www.astro.utoronto.ca/~patton/ssrs2, along with
associated pair classification experiment (clickable version of Figure 5
The Relative Ages of the Globular Cluster Subpopulations in M87
Relative ages for the globular cluster (GC) subpopulations in the Virgo giant
elliptical galaxy M87 (NGC 4486) have been determined from Stroemgren
photometry obtained with WFPC2 on board HST. Using a variety of population
synthesis models, and assuming the GC mass at the turnover of the luminosity
function is the same for both subpopulations, differential ages have been
determined from the observed magnitudes at the turnover of the globular cluster
luminosity function and from the mean color of each subpopulation. We measure
an age difference between the two subpopulations of 0.2 +/- 1.5 (systematic)
+/- 2 (random) Gyr, in the sense that the blue GCs are formally older. Thus, to
within our measurement errors, the two subpopulations are found to be coeval.
Combined with previous spectroscopic age determinations for M87 GCs, our
results favor a picture in which the GCs associated with this galaxy are formed
at high redshift, and within a period of a few Gyr.Comment: 5 pages, 2 postscript figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ
Letter
UCDs in the Coma Cluster
As part of the HST/ACS Coma Cluster Treasury Survey, we have undertaken a
Keck/LRIS spectroscopic campaign to determine membership for faint dwarf
galaxies. In the process, we discovered a population of Ultra Compact Dwarf
galaxies (UCDs) in the core region of the Coma cluster. At the distance of
Coma, UCDs are expected to have angular sizes 0.01 < R_e < 0.2 arcsec. With ACS
imaging, we can resolve all but the smallest ones with careful fitting.
Candidate UCDs were chosen based on magnitude, color, and degree of resolution.
We spectroscopically confirm 27 objects as bona fide UCD members of the Coma
cluster, a 60% success rate for objects targeted with M_R < -12. We attribute
the high success rate in part to the high resolution of HST data and to an
apparent large population of UCDs in Coma. We find that the UCDs tend to be
strongly clustered around giant galaxies, at least in the core region of the
cluster, and have a distribution and colors that are similar to globular
clusters. These findings suggest that UCDs are not independent galaxies, but
rather have a star cluster origin. This current study provides the dense
environment datapoint necessary for understanding the UCD population.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figures, to appear in the conference proceedings of "A
Universe of Dwarf Galaxies" (Lyon, June 14-18, 2010
Intergalactic Globular Clusters
We confirm and extend our previous detection of a population of intergalactic
globular clusters in Abell 1185, and report the first discovery of an
intergalactic globular cluster in the nearby Virgo cluster of galaxies. The
numbers, colors and luminosities of these objects can place constraints on
their origin, which in turn may yield new insights to the evolution of galaxies
in dense environments.Comment: 2 pages, no figures. Talk presented at JD6, IAU General Assembly XXV,
Sydney, Australia, July 2003, to appear in Highlights of Astronomy, Vol. 1
II Zwicky 23 and Family
II Zwicky 23 (UGC 3179) is a luminous, nearby compact narrow emission line
starburst galaxy with blue optical colors and strong emission lines. We present
a photometric and morphological study of II Zw 23 and its interacting
companions using data obtained with the WIYN 3.5-m telescope in Kitt Peak,
Arizona. II Zwicky 23 has a highly disturbed outer structure with long trails
of debris that may be feeding tidal dwarfs. Its central regions appear disky, a
structure that is consistent with the overall rotation pattern observed in the
H-alpha velocity field measured from Densepak observations obtained with WIYN.
We discuss the structure of II Zwicky 23 and its set of companions and possible
scenarios of debris formation in this system.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. To appear in the proceedings of ESO Astrophysics
Symposia: "Groups of Galaxies in the Nearby Universe", eds. I. Saviane, V.
Ivanov, J. Burissova (Springer
Globular Cluster Systems and the Missing Satellite Problem: Implications for Cold Dark Matter Models
We analyze the metallicity distributions of globular clusters belonging to 28
early-type galaxies in the survey of Kundu & Whitmore (2001). A Monte Carlo
algorithm which simulates the chemical evolution of galaxies that grow
hierarchically via dissipationless mergers is used to determine the most
probable protogalactic mass function for each galaxy. Contrary to the claims of
Kundu & Whitmore, we find that the observed metallicity distributions are in
close agreement with the predictions of such hierarchical formation models. The
mass spectrum of protogalactic fragments for the galaxies in our sample has a
power-law behavior, with an exponent of roughly -2. This spectrum is
indistinguishable from the mass spectrum of dark matter halos predicted by cold
dark matter models for structure formation. We argue that these protogalactic
fragments, the likely sites of globular cluster formation in the early
universe, are the disrupted remains of the "missing" satellite galaxies
predicted by cold dark matter models. Our findings suggest that the solution to
the missing satellite problem is through the suppression of gas accretion in
low-mass halos after reionization, or via self-interacting dark matter, and
argue against models with suppressed small-scale power or warm dark matter.Comment: 28 pages, 19 postscript figures. Accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journa
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