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1.
Line-of-sight velocity distributions of low-luminosity elliptical galaxies   总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1  
The shape of the line-of-sight velocity distribution (LOSVD) is measured for a sample of 14 elliptical galaxies, predominantly low-luminosity ellipticals. The sample is dominated by galaxies in the Virgo cluster but also contains ellipticals in nearby groups and low-density environments. The parametrization of the LOSVD given by Gerhard and van der Marel & Franx is adopted, which measures the asymmetrical and symmetrical deviations of the LOSVD from a Gaussian by the amplitudes h 3 and h 4 of the Gauss–Hermite series. Rotation, velocity dispersion, h 3 and h 4 are determined as a function of radius for both major and minor axes. Non-Gaussian LOSVDs are found for all galaxies along the major axes. Deviations from a Gaussian LOSVD along the minor axis are of much lower amplitude if present at all. Central decreases in velocity dispersion are found for three galaxies. Two galaxies have kinematically decoupled cores: NGC 4458 and the well-known case of NGC 3608.  相似文献   

2.
We investigate the properties of satellite galaxies formed in N -body/SPH simulations of galaxy formation in the ΛCDM cosmology. The simulations include the main physical effects thought to be important in galaxy formation and, in several cases, produce realistic spiral discs. In total, a sample of nine galaxies of luminosity comparable to the Milky Way was obtained. At magnitudes brighter than the resolution limit,   MV =−12  , the luminosity function of the satellite galaxies in the simulations is in excellent agreement with data for the Local Group. The radial number density profile of the model satellites, as well as their gas fractions also match observations very well. In agreement with previous N -body studies, we find that the satellites tend to be distributed in highly flattened configurations whose major axis is aligned with the major axis of the (generally triaxial) dark halo. In two out of three systems with sufficiently large satellite populations, the satellite system is nearly perpendicular to the plane of the galactic disc, a configuration analogous to that observed in the Milk Way. The discs themselves are perpendicular to the minor axis of their host haloes in the inner parts, and the correlation between the orientation of the galaxy and the shape of the halo persists even out to the virial radius. However, in one case the disc's minor axis ends up, at the virial radius, perpendicular to the minor axis of the halo. The angular momenta of the galaxies and their host halo tend to be well aligned.  相似文献   

3.
We investigate the atomic and molecular interstellar medium and star formation of NGC 275, the late-type spiral galaxy in Arp 140, which is interacting with NGC 274, an early-type system. The atomic gas (H  i ) observations reveal a tidal tail from NGC 275 which extends many optical radii beyond the interacting pair. The H  i morphology implies a prograde encounter between the galaxy pair approximately ∼1.5 × 108 yr ago. The Hα emission from NGC 275 indicates clumpy irregular star formation, clumpiness which is mirrored by the underlying mass distribution as traced by the K s-band emission. The molecular gas distribution is striking in its anticorrelation with the H  ii regions. Despite the evolved nature of NGC 275's interaction and its barred potential, neither the molecular gas nor the star formation is centrally concentrated. We suggest that this structure results from stochastic star formation leading to preferential consumption of the gas in certain regions of the galaxy. In contrast to the often-assumed picture of interacting galaxies, NGC 275, which appears to be close to merger, does not display enhanced or centrally concentrated star formation. If the eventual merger is to lead to a significant burst of star formation it must be preceded by a significant conversion of atomic to molecular gas as at the current rate of star formation all the molecular gas will be exhausted by the time the merger is complete.  相似文献   

4.
We have obtained spectroscopic redshifts of colour-selected point sources in four wide area VLT-FLAMES (Very Large Telescope-Fibre Large Array Multi Element Spectrograph) fields around the Fornax cluster giant elliptical galaxy NGC 1399, identifying as cluster members 27 previously unknown faint     compact stellar systems (CSS), and improving redshift accuracy for 23 previously catalogued CSS.
By amalgamating our results with CSS from previous 2dF observations and excluding CSS dynamically associated with prominent (non-dwarf) galaxies surrounding NGC 1399, we have isolated 80 'unbound' systems that are either part of NGC  1399's globular cluster (GC) system or intracluster GCs. For these unbound systems, we find (i) they are mostly located off the main stellar locus in colour–colour space; (ii) their projected distribution about NGC  1399 is anisotropic, following the Fornax cluster galaxy distribution, and there is weak evidence for group rotation about NGC  1399; (iii) their completeness-adjusted radial surface density profile has a slope similar to that of NGC  1399's inner GC system; (iv) their mean heliocentric recessional velocity is between that of NGC  1399's inner GCs and that of the surrounding dwarf galaxies, but their velocity dispersion is significantly lower; (v) bright CSS  ( M V < −11)  are slightly redder than the fainter systems, suggesting they have higher metallicity; (vi) CSS show no significant trend in   g '− i '  colour index with radial distance from NGC  1399.  相似文献   

5.
In this paper, we present a detailed study of the peculiar early-type galaxy NGC 1947. The main goal of this work is to constrain the dynamical status and the formation history of NGC 1947 by comparing the observed properties with the predictions derived from different galaxy formation scenarios. To this aim, we derived the photometric and kinematical properties of NGC 1947. Due to the presence of an extended dust lane, which crosses the galaxy centre along the photometric minor axis, we used near-infrared (NIR) images ( J and K bands) to derive an accurate analysis of the stellar light distribution. Optical images (in the V and R bands) are used to derive the colour profiles and colour maps to study the structure of the dust lane. The observed kinematics confirm the presence of two components with decoupled angular momentum: gas and dust rotate along the minor axis, while the rotation velocities of the stars are observed along the major axis. The complex structure observed in NGC 1947 supports the hypothesis that some kind of interactions happened in the evolution of this object. We analysed two alternatives: a merging process and an accretion event. We discussed how the observed properties strongly suggest that the decoupled ring of gas and dust has been accreted from outside.  相似文献   

6.
NGC 3741: the dark halo profile from the most extended rotation curve   总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1  
We present new H  i observations of the nearby dwarf galaxy NGC 3741. This galaxy has an extremely extended H  i disc, which allows us to trace the rotation curve out to unprecedented distances in terms of the optical disc: we reach 42 B -band exponential scalelengths or about 7 kpc. The H  i disc is strongly warped, but the warp is very symmetric. The distribution and kinematics are accurately derived by building model data cubes, which closely reproduce the observations. In order to account for the observed features in the data cube, radial motions of the order of 5–13 km s−1 are needed. They are consistent with an inner bar of several hundreds of pc and accretion of material in the outer regions.
The observed rotation curve was decomposed into its stellar, gaseous and dark components. The Burkert dark halo (with a central constant density core) provides very good fits. The dark halo density distribution predicted by the Λ cold dark matter (CDM) theory fails to fit the data, unless NGC 3741 is a 2.5σ exception to the predicted relation between concentration parameter and virial mass and at the same time a high value of the virial mass (though poorly constrained) of  1011 M  . Noticeably, modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) seems to be consistent with the observed rotation curve. Scaling up the contribution of the gaseous disc also gives a good fit.  相似文献   

7.
We examine the local stability of galactic discs against axisymmetric density perturbations with special attention to the different dynamics of the stellar and gaseous components. In particular, the discs of the Milky Way and of NGC 6946 are studied. The Milky Way is shown to be stable, whereas the inner parts of NGC 6946, a typical Sc galaxy from the Kennicutt sample, are dynamically unstable. The ensuing dynamical evolution of the composite disc is studied by numerical simulations. The evolution is so fierce that the stellar disc heats up dynamically on a short time-scale to such a high degree, which seems to contradict the morphological appearance of the galaxy. The star formation rate required to cool the disc dynamically is estimated. Even if the star formation rate in NGC 6946 is at present high enough to meet this requirement, it is argued that the discs of Sc galaxies cannot sustain such a high star formation rate for extended periods.  相似文献   

8.
Strong evidence for the presence of a warped Keplerian accretion disc in NGC 4258 (M 106) has been inferred from the kinematics of water masers detected at subparsec scales. Assuming a power-law accretion disc and using constraints on the disc parameters derived from observational data, we have analysed the relativistic Bardeen–Petterson effect driven by a Kerr black hole as the potential physical mechanism responsible for the disc warping. We found that the Bardeen–Petterson radius is comparable to or smaller than the inner radius of the maser disc (independent of the allowed value for the black hole spin parameter). Numerical simulations for a wide range of physical conditions have shown that the evolution of a misaligned disc due to the Bardeen–Petterson torques usually produces an inner flat disc and a warped transition region with a smooth gradient in the tilt and twist angles. Since this structure is similar to that seen in NGC 4258, we propose that the Bardeen–Petterson effect may be responsible for the disc warping in this galaxy. We estimated the time-scale necessary for the disc inside of the Bardeen–Petterson radius to align with the black hole's equator, as a function of the black hole spin. Our results show that the Bardeen–Petterson effect can align the disc within a few billion years in the case of NGC 4258. Finally, we show that if the observed curvature of the outer anomalous arms in the galactic disc of NGC 4258 is associated with the precession of its radio jet/counterjet, then the Bardeen–Petterson effect can provide the required precession period.  相似文献   

9.
We have used the Swedish ESO Submillimeter Telescope to observe the molecular gas in the Circinus galaxy using the CO(1 → 0) transition as a tracer. The central region and major axis have been mapped and several other points were also observed. The gas in the galaxy is concentrated towards the nucleus, the peak being coincident with the radio/optical core. The inclination of the molecular galactic disc is more comparable to that of the radio continuum than to that of the large-scale H  i emission. Evidence for an anomalous spur structure pointing radially away from the galactic centre is presented, and may indicate a causal link between it and similar features seen in optical lines and radio continuum. Our data suggest the presence of a central molecular ring or disc with radius 300 ± 50 pc and a rotation velocity of about 200 km s−1 (assuming i  = 73°). The dynamical mass of the nucleus is estimated to be no greater than 3.9 × 109 M. Assuming that the distribution of gas varies smoothly in the outer regions, we calculate the mass of molecular gas in the galaxy to be at least M mol = 1.1 × 109 M, and the star-forming efficiency to be 11 ± 2 L M−1. These results imply that Circinus is undergoing a massive central starburst which may be, at least partially, responsible for its extended minor axis emission seen in several wavebands.  相似文献   

10.
The results obtained from a study of the mass distribution of 36 spiral galaxies are presented. The galaxies were observed using Fabry–Perot interferometry as part of the GHASP survey. The main aim of obtaining high-resolution Hα 2D velocity fields is to define more accurately the rising part of the rotation curves which should allow to better constrain the parameters of the mass distribution. The Hα velocities were combined with low resolution H  i data from the literature, when available. Combining the kinematical data with photometric data, mass models were derived from these rotation curves using two different functional forms for the halo: an isothermal sphere (ISO) and a Navarro–Frenk–White (NFW) profile. For the galaxies already modelled by other authors, the results tend to agree. Our results point at the existence of a constant density core in the centre of the dark matter haloes rather than a cuspy core, whatever the type of the galaxy from Sab to Im. This extends to all types the result already obtained by other authors studying dwarf and low surface brightness galaxies but would necessitate a larger sample of galaxies to conclude more strongly. Whatever model is used (ISO or NFW), small core radius haloes have higher central densities, again for all morphological types. We confirm different halo scaling laws, such as the correlations between the core radius and the central density of the halo with the absolute magnitude of a galaxy: low-luminosity galaxies have small core radius and high central density. We find that the product of the central density with the core radius of the dark matter halo is nearly constant, whatever the model and whatever the absolute magnitude of the galaxy. This suggests that the halo surface density is independent from the galaxy type.  相似文献   

11.
In this work we build a detailed dynamic model for an S0 galaxy possibly hosting a central massive dark object (MDO). We show that the photometric profiles and the kinematics along the major and minor axes, including the h 3 and h 4 profiles, imply the presence of a central MDO of mass     i.e. 0.3–2.8 per cent of the mass derived for the stellar spheroidal component. Models without MDO are unable to reproduce the kinematic properties of the inner stars and of the rapidly rotating nuclear gas.
The stellar population consists of an exponential disc (27 per cent of the light) and a diffuse spheroidal component (73 per cent of the light) that cannot be represented by a simple de Vaucouleurs profile at any radius. The M L ratios we found for the stellar components (3.3 and 6.6 respectively) are typical of those of disc and elliptical galaxies.  相似文献   

12.
We investigate the cross-talk between the two key components of tidal-torque theory, the inertia ( I ) and shear ( T ) tensors, using a cosmological N -body simulation with thousands of well-resolved haloes. We find that the principal axes of I and T are strongly aligned , even though I characterizes the protohalo locally while T is determined by the large-scale structure. Thus, the resultant galactic spin, which plays a key role in galaxy formation, is only a residual due to ∼10 per cent deviations from the perfect alignment of T and I . The   T – I   correlation induces a weak tendency for the protohalo spin to be perpendicular to the major axes of T and I , but this correlation is erased by non-linear effects at late times, making the observed spins poor indicators of the initial shear field.
However, the   T – I   correlation implies that the shear tensor can be used for identifying the positions and boundaries of protohaloes in cosmological initial conditions – a missing piece in galaxy formation theory. The typical configuration is of a prolate protohalo lying perpendicular to a large-scale high-density ridge, with the surrounding voids inducing compression along the major and intermediate inertia axes of the protohalo. This leads to a transient sub-halo filament along the large-scale ridge, whose subclumps then flow along the filament and merge into the final halo.
The centres of protohaloes tend to lie in ∼1 σ overdensity regions, but their association with linear density maxima smoothed on galactic scales is vague: only ∼40 per cent of the protohaloes contain peaks. Several other characteristics distinguish protohaloes from density peaks, e.g. they tend to compress along two principal axes while many peaks compress along three axes.  相似文献   

13.
We construct a physically motivated model for predicting the properties of the remnants of gaseous galaxy mergers, given the properties of the progenitors and the orbit. The model is calibrated using a large suite of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) merger simulations. It implements generalized energy conservation while accounting for dissipative energy losses and star formation. The dissipative effects are evaluated from the initial gas fractions and from the orbital parameters via an 'impulse' parameter, which characterizes the strength of the encounter. Given the progenitor properties, the model predicts the remnant stellar mass, half-mass radius and velocity dispersion to an accuracy of 25 per cent. The model is valid for both major and minor mergers. We provide an explicit recipe for semi-analytic models of galaxy formation.  相似文献   

14.
We have obtained a two-dimensional velocity map in H of the inner 4 arc min zone of the Scd starburst galaxy NGC 6946 using the TAURUS interferometric spectrometer on the 2.5 m Isaac Newton Telescope. The major axis rotation curve is a cleen kinematic superposition of a central 1 kpc sphere with solid body rotation and a disc with density falling inversely with radius. We show clear evidence of symmetrical radial motions in the plane of the galaxy with velocity up to 100 km s–1 along axes offset from the major axis by up to ±30°. Along the bar at position angle 160° we see outflow out to –2 kpc and significant inflow beyond this radius. These velocity fields give clues to the nature of the starburst process within the central 1 kpc zone of the galaxy.  相似文献   

15.
The distribution of galaxy properties in groups and clusters holds important information on galaxy evolution and growth of structure in the Universe. While clusters have received appreciable attention in this regard, the role of groups as fundamental to formation of the present-day galaxy population has remained relatively unaddressed. Here, we present stellar ages, metallicities and α-element abundances derived using Lick indices for 67 spectroscopically confirmed members of the NGC 5044 galaxy group with the aim of shedding light on galaxy evolution in the context of the group environment.
We find that galaxies in the NGC 5044 group show evidence for a strong relationship between stellar mass and metallicity, consistent with their counterparts in both higher and lower mass groups and clusters. Galaxies show no clear trend of age or α-element abundance with mass, but these data form a tight sequence when fitted simultaneously in age, metallicity and stellar mass. In the context of the group environment, our data support the tidal disruption of low-mass galaxies at small group-centric radii, as evident from an apparent lack of galaxies below  ∼109 M  within ∼100 kpc of the brightest group galaxy. Using a joint analysis of absorption- and emission-line metallicities, we are able to show that the star-forming galaxy population in the NGC 5044 group appears to require gas removal to explain the ∼1.5 dex offset between absorption- and emission-line metallicities observed in some cases. A comparison with other stellar population properties suggests that this gas removal is dominated by galaxy interactions with the hot intragroup medium.  相似文献   

16.
In order to test the basic equations believed to dictate the dynamics of disc galaxies, we present and analyse deep two-dimensional spectral data obtained using the PPAK integral field unit for the early-type spiral systems NGC 2273, NGC 2985, NGC 3898 and NGC 5533. We describe the care needed to obtain and process such data to a point where reliable kinematic measurements can be obtained from these observations, and a new more optimal method for deriving the rotational motion and velocity dispersions in such disc systems. The data from NGC 2273 and NGC 2985 show systematic variations in velocity dispersion with azimuth, as one would expect if the shapes of their velocity ellipsoids are significantly anisotropic, while the hotter discs in NGC 3898 and NGC 5533 appear to have fairly isotropic velocity dispersions. Correcting the rotational motion for asymmetric drift using the derived velocity dispersions reproduces the rotation curves inferred from emission lines reasonably well, implying that this correction is quite robust, and that the use of the asymmetric drift equation is valid. NGC 2985 is sufficiently close to face on for the data, combined with the asymmetric drift equation, to determine all three components of the velocity ellipsoid. The principal axes of this velocity ellipsoid are found to be in the ratio  σ z : σφ : σ R ≈ 0.7 : 0.7 : 1  , which shows unequivocally that this disc distribution function respects a third integral of motion. The ratio is also consistent with the predictions of epicyclic theory, giving some confidence in the application of this approximation to even fairly early-type disc galaxies.  相似文献   

17.
18.
We present images of the jets in the nearby radio galaxy NGC 315 made with the Very Large Array at five frequencies between 1.365 and 5 GHz with resolutions between 1.5 and 45 arcsec. Within 15 arcsec of the nucleus, the spectral index of the jets is  α= 0.61  . Further from the nucleus, the spectrum is flatter, with significant transverse structure. Between 15 and 70 arcsec from the nucleus, the spectral index varies from ≈0.55 on-axis to ≈0.44 at the edge. This spectral structure suggests a change of dominant particle acceleration mechanism with distance from the nucleus and the transverse gradient may be associated with shear in the jet velocity field. Further from the nucleus, the spectral index has a constant value of 0.47. We derive the distribution of Faraday rotation over the inner ±400 arcsec of the radio source and show that it has three components: a constant term, a linear gradient (both probably due to our Galaxy) and residual fluctuations at the level of 1–2 rad m−2. These residual fluctuations are smaller in the brighter (approaching) jet, consistent with the idea that they are produced by magnetic fields in a halo of hot plasma that surrounds the radio source. We model this halo, deriving a core radius of ≈225 arcsec and constraining its central density and magnetic field strength. We also image the apparent magnetic field structure over the first ±200 arcsec from the nucleus.  相似文献   

19.
We show that the kinematics of the shells seen around some elliptical galaxies provide a new, independent means for measuring the gravitational potentials of elliptical galaxies out to large radii. A numerical simulation of a set of shells formed in the merger between an elliptical and a smaller galaxy reveals that the shells have a characteristic observable kinematic structure, with the maximum line-of-sight velocity increasing linearly as one moves inward from a shell edge. A simple analytic calculation shows that this structure provides a direct measure of the gradient of the gravitational potential at the shell radius. In order to extract this information from attainable data, we have also derived a complete distribution of line-of-sight velocities for material within a shell; comparing the observed spectra of a shell to a stellar template convolved with this distribution will enable us to measure the gradient of the potential at this radius. Repeating the analysis for a whole series of nested shells in a galaxy allows the complete form of the gravitational potential as a function of radius to be mapped out. The requisite observations lie within reach of the up-coming generation of large telescopes.  相似文献   

20.
We use three-integral models to infer the distribution function (DF) of the boxy E3–E4 galaxy NGC 1600 from surface brightness and line-profile data on the minor and major axes. We assume axisymmetry and that the mass-to-light ratio is constant in the central ∼1 R e. Stars in the resulting gravitational potential move mainly on regular orbits. We use an approximate third integral K from perturbation theory and write the DF as a sum of basis functions in the three integrals E , L z and K . We then fit the projected moments of these basis functions to the kinematic observables and deprojected density, using a non-parametric algorithm. The deduced dynamical structure is radially anisotropic, with σ θ σ r ≈ σ φ σ r ≈0.7 on the major axis. Both on the minor axis and near the centre the velocity distribution is more isotropic; thus the model is flattened by equatorial radial orbits. The kinematic data are fitted without the need for a central black hole; the central mass determined previously from ground-based data therefore overestimates the actual black-hole mass. The mass-to-light ratio of the stars is M L V =6  h 50. The anisotropy structure of NGC 1600 with a radially anisotropic main body and more nearly isotropic centre is similar to that found recently in NGC 1399, 2434, 3379 and 6703, suggesting that this pattern may be common amongst massive elliptical galaxies. We discuss a possible merger origin of NGC 1600 in the light of these results.  相似文献   

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