We have used Spitzer images of a sample of 68 barred spiral galaxies in the local universe to make systematic measurements of bar length and bar strength. We combine these with precise determinations ...of the corotation radii associated with the bars, taken from our previous study, which used the phase change from radial inflow to radial outflow of gas at corotation, based on high-resolution two-dimensional velocity fields in H taken with a Fabry-Pérot spectrometer. After presenting the histograms of the derived bar parameters, we study their dependence on the galaxy morphological type and on the total stellar mass of the host galaxy, and then produce a set of parametric plots. These include the bar pattern speed versus bar length, the pattern speed normalized with the characteristic pattern speed of the outer disk versus the bar strength, and the normalized pattern speed versus , the ratio of corotation radius to bar length. To provide guidelines for our interpretation, we used recently published simulations, including disk and dark matter halo components. Our most striking conclusion is that bars with values of < 1.4, previously considered dynamically fast rotators, can be among the slowest rotators both in absolute terms and when their pattern speeds are normalized. The simulations confirm that this is because as the bars are braked, they can grow longer more quickly than the outward drift of the corotation radius. We conclude that dark matter halos have indeed slowed down the rotation of bars on Gyr timescales.
Observations reveal a strong structural coupling between bulge and disc in S0 galaxies, which seems difficult to explain if they have formed from supposedly catastrophic events such as major mergers. ...We face this question by quantifying the bulge-disc coupling in dissipative simulations of major and minor mergers that result in realistic S0s. We have studied the dissipative N-body binary merger simulations from the GalMer database that give rise to realistic, relaxed E/S0 and S0 remnants. We simulate surface brightness profiles of these S0-like remnants in the K band, mimicking typical observational conditions, to perform bulge-disc decompositions analogous to those carried out in real S0s. The global bulge-disc structure of these remnants has been compared with real data. Contrary to the popular view, mergers can result in S0 remnants with realistically coupled bulge-disc structures in less than ~3 Gyr. The bulge-disc coupling and the presence of pseudo-bulges in real S0s cannot be used as an argument against the possible major-merger origin of these galaxies.
The CALIFA team has recently found that the stellar angular momentum and concentration of late-type spiral galaxies are incompatible with those of lenticular galaxies (S0s), concluding that fading ...alone cannot satisfactorily explain the evolution from spirals into S0s. Here we explore whether major mergers can provide an alternative way to transform spirals into S0s by analysing the spiral-spiral major mergers from the GalMer database that lead to realistic, relaxed S0-like galaxies. We find that the change in stellar angular momentum and concentration can explain the differences in the lambda sub(Re)-R sub(90)/R sub(50) plane found by the CALIFA team. Major mergers thus offer a feasible explanation for the transformation of spirals into S0s.
Euclid preparation Gómez-Alvarez, P.; Altieri, B.; Laureijs, R. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
01/2022, Letnik:
657
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context.
While
Euclid
is an ESA mission specifically designed to investigate the nature of dark energy and dark matter, the planned unprecedented combination of survey area (∼15 000 deg
2
), spatial ...resolution, low sky-background, and depth also make
Euclid
an excellent space observatory for the study of the low surface brightness Universe. Scientific exploitation of the extended low surface brightness structures requires dedicated calibration procedures that are yet to be tested.
Aims.
We investigate the capabilities of
Euclid
to detect extended low surface brightness structure by identifying and quantifying sky-background sources and stray-light contamination. We test the feasibility of generating sky flat-fields to reduce large-scale residual gradients in order to reveal the extended emission of galaxies observed in the
Euclid
survey.
Methods.
We simulated a realistic set of
Euclid
/VIS observations, taking into account both instrumental and astronomical sources of contamination, including cosmic rays, stray-light, zodiacal light, interstellar medium, and the cosmic infrared background, while simulating the effects of background sources in the field of view.
Results.
We demonstrate that a combination of calibration lamps, sky flats, and self-calibration would enable recovery of emission at a limiting surface brightness magnitude of
μ
lim
= 29.5
−0.27
+0.08
mag arcsec
−2
(3
σ
, 10 × 10 arcsec
2
) in the Wide Survey, and it would reach regions deeper by 2 mag in the Deep Surveys.
Conclusions.Euclid
/VIS has the potential to be an excellent low surface brightness observatory. Covering the gap between pixel-to-pixel calibration lamp flats and self-calibration observations for large scales, the application of sky flat-fielding will enhance the sensitivity of the VIS detector at scales larger than 1″, up to the size of the field of view, enabling
Euclid
to detect extended surface brightness structures below
μ
lim
= 31 mag arcsec
−2
and beyond.
Formation of S0 galaxies through mergers Eliche-Moral, M. C.; Rodríguez-Pérez, C.; Borlaff, A. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
09/2018, Letnik:
617
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context. Major mergers are popularly considered too destructive to produce the relaxed regular structures and the morphological inner components (ICs) usually observed in lenticular (S0) galaxies. ...Aims. We aim to test if major mergers can produce remnants with realistic S0 morphologies. Methods. We have selected a sample of relaxed discy remnants resulting from the dissipative merger simulations of the GalMer database and derived their properties mimicking the typical conditions of current observational data. We have compared their global morphologies, visual components, and merger relics in mock photometric images with their real counterparts. Results. Only Ȉ1–2 Gyr after the full merger, we find that: 1) many remnants (67 major and 29 minor events) present relaxed structures and typical S0 or E/S0 morphologies, for a wide variety of orbits and even in gas-poor cases. 2) Contrary to popular expectations, most of them do not exhibit any morphological traces of their past merger origin under typical observing conditions and at distances as nearby as 30 Mpc. 3) The merger relics are more persistent in minor mergers than in major ones for similar relaxing time periods. 4) No major-merger S0-like remnant develops a significant bar. 5) Nearly 58% of the major-merger S0 remnants host visually detectable ICs, such as embedded inner discs, rings, pseudo-rings, inner spirals, nuclear bars, and compact sources, very frequent in real S0s too. 6) All remnants contain a lens or oval, identically ubiquitous in local S0s. 7) These lenses and ovals do not come from bar dilution in major-merger cases, but are associated with stellar halos or embedded inner discs instead (thick or thin). Conclusions. The relaxed morphologies, lenses, ovals, and other ICs of real S0s do not necessarily come from internal secular evolution, gas infall, or environmental mechanisms, as traditionally assumed, but they can result from major mergers as well.
Context. The physical processes driving the evolution of star formation (SF) in galaxies over cosmic time still present many open questions. Recent galaxy surveys allow now to study these processes ...in great detail at intermediate redshift (0 ≤ z ≤ 0.5). Aims. We build a complete sample of star-forming galaxies and analyze their properties, reaching systems with low stellar masses and low star formation rates (SFRs) at intermediate-to-low redshift. Methods. We use data from the SHARDS multiband survey in the GOODS-North field. Its depth (up to magnitude ⟨m3σ⟩~ 26.5) and its spectro-photometric resolution (R ~ 50) provides us with an ideal dataset to search for emission line galaxies (ELGs). We develop a new algorithm to identify low-redshift (z < 0.36) ELGs by detecting the OIII5007 and Hα emission lines simultaneously. We fit the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the selected sample, using a model with two single stellar populations. Results. We find 160 star-forming galaxies for which we derive equivalent widths (EWs) and absolute fluxes of both emission lines. We detect EWs as low as 12 Å, with median values for the sample of ~35 Å in OIII5007 and ~56 Å in Hα, respectively. Results from the SED fitting show a young stellar population with low median metallicity (36% of the solar value) and extinction (AV ~ 0.37), with median galaxy stellar mass ~108.5 M⊙. Gas-phase metallicities measured from available spectra are also low. ELGs in our sample present bluer colours in the UVJ plane than the median colour-selected star-forming galaxy in SHARDS. We suggest a new V-J colour criterion to separate ELGs from non-ELGs in blue galaxy samples. In addition, several galaxies present high densities of O-type stars, possibly producing galactic superwinds, which makes them interesting targets for follow-up spectroscopy. Conclusions. We have demonstrated the efficiency of SHARDS in detecting low-mass ELGs (~2 magnitudes deeper than previous spectroscopic surveys in the same field). The selected sample accounts for 20% of the global galaxy population at this redshift and luminosity, and is characterized by young SF bursts with sub-solar metallicities and low extinction. However, robust fits to the full SEDs can only be obtained including an old stellar population, suggesting the young component is built up by a recent burst of SF in an otherwise old galaxy.
ABSTRACT
We analysed a Fabry–Pérot (FP) cube of the interacting pair of galaxies Arp 70, which was obtained from the CeSAM public repository of FP data. On the larger galaxy Arp 70b, we detected the ...spectral signature of two different outflows, one located in the centre and the other associated with a giant H ii region in the arm region. The central outflow is especially prominent, with the flux of the secondary peaks in the emission-line profiles due to the outflowing gas being similar to that of the main peak. We used an archive fibre spectrum from SDSS to confirm this detection in H α as well as in the N ii line and, in addition, to perform diagnostics on the nature of the ionization. The emission at the centre is consistent with a low-ionization nuclear emission-line region and a weak active galactic nucleus. Using the spatial distribution of the profiles in the FP cube, we estimated the shape of the outflow which is consistent with two cones of expanding material, one approaching and the other receding from us, and used this to estimate the physical parameters of the outflow, finding energies of order 1057 erg and masses of order 108 M⊙. On the giant H ii region, we found a very large expanding superbubble with a diameter of ∼5 kpc. The bubble has an energy of order 1054 erg and a mass of about 4 × 107 M⊙. We discuss the possible origins for both of these features and whether they could be associated with the interaction between the galaxies.
We present a technique that permits the analysis of stellar population gradients in a relatively low-cost way compared to integral field unit (IFU) surveys. We developed a technique to analyze ...unresolved stellar populations of spatially resolved galaxies based on photometric multi-filter surveys. This technique allows the analysis of vastly larger samples and out to larger galactic radii. We derived spatially resolved stellar population properties and radial gradients by applying a centroidal Voronoi tessellation and performing a multicolor photometry spectral energy distribution fitting. This technique has been successfully applied to a sample of 29 massive (M⋆ > 1010.5M⊙) early-type galaxies at z < 0.3 from the ALHAMBRA survey. We produced detailed 2D maps of stellar population properties (age, metallicity, and extinction), which allow us to identify galactic features. Radial structures were studied, and luminosity-weighted and mass-weighted gradients were derived out to 2–3.5 Reff. We find that the spatially resolved stellar population mass, age, and metallicity are well represented by their integrated values. We find the gradients of early-type galaxies to be on average flat in age (∇log AgeL = 0.02 ± 0.06 dex/Reff) and negative in metallicity (∇Fe/HL = −0.09 ± 0.06 dex/Reff). Overall,the extinction gradients are flat (∇Av = −0.03 ± 0.09 mag/Reff ) with a wide spread. These results are in agreement with previous studies that used standard long-slit spectroscopy, and with the most recent IFU studies. According to recent simulations, these results are consistent with a scenario where early-type galaxies were formed through major mergers and where their final gradients are driven by the older ages and higher metallicity of the accreted systems. We demonstrate the scientific potential of multi-filter photometry to explore the spatially resolved stellar populations of local galaxies and confirm previous spectroscopic trends from a complementary technique.
Using a specialized technique sensitive to the presence of expanding ionized gas, we have detected a set of three concentric expanding shells in an H ii region in the nearby spiral galaxy M33. After ...mapping the kinematics in Hα with Fabry–Perot spectroscopy, we used slit spectra to measure the intensities of the S ii doublet at λλ671.9, 673.1 nm and the N ii doublet at λλ645.8, 658.3 nm to corroborate the kinematics and apply diagnostic tests using line ratios. These showed that the expanding shells are shock dominated as would be the case if they had originated with supernova explosions. Estimating their kinetic energies, we find fairly low values, indicating a fairly advanced stage of evolution. We obtain density, mass and parent star mass estimates, which, along with the kinetic energies, are inconsistent with the simplest models of shock–interstellar medium interaction. We propose that the presence and properties of an inhomogeneous medium offer a scenario which can account for these observations, and discuss the implications. Comparing our results with data from the literature supports the combined presence of an H ii region and supernova remnant material at the observed position.
Formation of S0 galaxies through mergers Eliche-Moral, M. C.; Rodríguez-Pérez, C.; Borlaff, A. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
09/2018, Letnik:
617
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Context
. Major mergers are popularly considered too destructive to produce the relaxed regular structures and the morphological inner components (ICs) usually observed in lenticular (S0) galaxies.
...Aims
. We aim to test if major mergers can produce remnants with realistic S0 morphologies.
Methods
. We have selected a sample of relaxed discy remnants resulting from the dissipative merger simulations of the GalMer database and derived their properties mimicking the typical conditions of current observational data. We have compared their global morphologies, visual components, and merger relics in mock photometric images with their real counterparts.
Results
. Only Ȉ1–2 Gyr after the full merger, we find that: 1) many remnants (67 major and 29 minor events) present relaxed structures and typical S0 or E/S0 morphologies, for a wide variety of orbits and even in gas-poor cases. 2) Contrary to popular expectations, most of them do not exhibit any morphological traces of their past merger origin under typical observing conditions and at distances as nearby as 30 Mpc. 3) The merger relics are more persistent in minor mergers than in major ones for similar relaxing time periods. 4) No major-merger S0-like remnant develops a significant bar. 5) Nearly 58% of the major-merger S0 remnants host visually detectable ICs, such as embedded inner discs, rings, pseudo-rings, inner spirals, nuclear bars, and compact sources, very frequent in real S0s too. 6) All remnants contain a lens or oval, identically ubiquitous in local S0s. 7) These lenses and ovals do not come from bar dilution in major-merger cases, but are associated with stellar halos or embedded inner discs instead (thick or thin).
Conclusions
. The relaxed morphologies, lenses, ovals, and other ICs of real S0s do not necessarily come from internal secular evolution, gas infall, or environmental mechanisms, as traditionally assumed, but they can result from major mergers as well.
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