Bernd Vollmer

Virgo galaxies with long one-sided H I tails

In a new H I imaging survey of Virgo galaxies (VIVA: VLA Imaging of Virgo galaxies in Atomic gas), we find seven spiral galaxies with long H I tails. The morphology varies, but all the tails are extended well beyond the optical radii on one side. These galaxies are found in intermediate- to low-density regions (0.6-1 Mpc in projection from M87). The tails are all pointing roughly away from M87, suggesting that these tails may have been created by a global cluster mechanism. While the tidal effects of the cluster potential are too small, a rough estimate suggests that simple ram pressure stripping could have indeed formed the tails in all but two cases. At least three systems show H I truncation to within the stellar disk, providing evidence of a gas-gas interaction. Although most of these galaxies do not appear disturbed optically, some have close neighbors, suggesting that tidal interactions may have moved gas outward, making it more susceptible to the intracluster medium ram pressure or viscosity. Indeed, a simulation study of one of the tail galaxies, NGC 4654, suggests that the galaxy is most likely affected by the combined effect of a gravitational interaction and ram pressure stripping. We conclude that these one-sided H I tail galaxies have recently arrived in the cluster, falling in on highly radial orbits. It appears that galaxies begin to lose their gas already at intermediate distances from the cluster center through ram pressure or turbulent viscous stripping and tidal interactions with their neighbors, or a combination of both.

The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS) - I. The UV luminosity function of the central 12 sq. deg

The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS) is a complete blind survey of the Virgo cluster covering similar to 40 sq. deg in the far UV (FUV, lambda(eff) = 1539 angstrom, Delta lambda = 442 angstrom) and similar to 120 sq. deg in the near UV (NUV, lambda(eff) = 2316 angstrom, Delta lambda = 1060 angstrom). The goal of the survey is to study the ultraviolet (UV) properties of galaxies in a rich cluster environment, spanning a wide luminosity range from giants to dwarfs, and regardless of prior knowledge of their star formation activity. The UV data will be combined with those in other bands (optical: NGVS; far-infrared - submm: HeViCS; HI: ALFALFA) and with our multizone chemo-spectrophotometric models of galaxy evolution to make a complete and exhaustive study of the effects of the environment on the evolution of galaxies in high density regions. We present here the scientific objectives of the survey, describing the observing strategy and briefly discussing different data reduction techniques. Using UV data already in-hand for the central 12 sq. deg we determine the FUV and NUV luminosity functions of the Virgo cluster core for all cluster members and separately for early-and late-type galaxies and compare it to the one obtained in the field and other nearby clusters (Coma, A1367). This analysis shows that the FUV and NUV luminosity functions of the core of the Virgo clusters are flatter (alpha similar to -1.1) than those determined in Coma and A1367. We discuss the possible origin of this difference.

Ram-pressure stripped molecular gas in the Virgo spiral galaxy NGC 4522

IRAM 30 m 12 CO(1-0) and 12 CO(2-1) HERA observations are presented for the ram-pressure stripped Virgo spiral galaxy NGC 4522. The CO emission is detected in the galactic disk and the extraplanar gas. The extraplanar CO emission follows the morphology of the atomic gas closely but is less extended. The CO maxima do not appear to correspond to regions where there is peak massive star formation as probed by Ha emission. The presence of molecular gas is a necessary but not sufficient condition for star formation. Compared to the disk gas, the molecular fraction of the extraplanar gas is 30% lower and the star formation efficiency of the extraplanar gas is about 3 times lower. The comparison with an existing dynamical model extended by a recipe for distinguishing between atomic and molecular gas shows that a significant part of the gas is stripped in the form of overdense arm-like structures. It is argued that the molecular fraction depends on the square root of the total large-scale density. Based on the combination of the CO/Ha and an analytical model, the total gas density is estimated to be about 4 times lower than that of the galactic disk. Molecules and stars form within this dense gas according to the same laws as in the galactic disk, i.e. they mainly depend on the total large-scale gas density. Star formation proceeds where the local large-scale gas density is highest. Given the complex 3D morphology this does not correspond to the peaks in the surface density. In the absence of a confining gravitational potential, the stripped gas arms will most probably disperse; i.e. the density of the gas will decrease and star formation will cease.

The characteristic polarized radio continuum distribution of cluster spiral galaxies

Deep observations are presented of the 6 cm polarized radio continuum emission of 8 Virgo spiral galaxies. All galaxies show strongly asymmetric distributions of polarized intensity with elongated ridges located in the outer galactic disk. These features are not found in existing observations of polarized radio continuum emission of field spiral galaxies, where the distribution of 6 cm polarized intensity is generally relatively symmetric and strongest in the interarm regions. We therefore conclude that most Virgo spiral galaxies and, most probably, the majority of cluster spiral galaxies show asymmetric distributions of polarized radio continuum emission due to their interaction with the cluster environment. The polarized continuum emission is sensitive to compression and shear motions in the plane of the sky and thus contains important information about the velocity distortions caused by these interactions.

Pre-peak ram pressure stripping in the Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4501

VIVA Hi observations of the Virgo spiral galaxy NGC 4501 are presented. The HI disk is sharply truncated to the southwest, well within the stellar disk. A region of low surface-density gas, which is more extended than the main HI disk, is discovered northeast of the galaxy center. These data are compared to existing 6 cm polarized radio continuum emission, Hα, and optical broad band images. We observe a coincidence between the western HI and polarized emission edges, on the one hand, and a faint Ha emission ridge, on the other. The polarized emission maxima are located within the gaps between the spiral arms and the faint Hα ridge. Based on the comparison of these observations with a sample of dynamical simulations with different values for maximum ram pressure and different inclination angles between the disk and the orbital plane, we conclude that ram pressure stripping can account for the main observed characteristics. NGC 4501 is stripped nearly edge-on, is heading southwest, and is ∼200-300 Myr before peak ram pressure, i.e. its closest approach to M 87. The southwestern ridge of enhanced gas surface density and enhanced polarized radio-continuum emission is due to ram pressure compression. It is argued that the faint western Ha emission ridge is induced by nearly edge-on ram pressure stripping. NGC 4501 represents an especially clear example of early stage ram pressure stripping of a large cluster-spiral galaxy.

Ram pressure stripping of the multiphase ISM in the Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4438

Ram pressure stripping of the multiphase ISM is studied in the perturbed Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4438. This galaxy underwent a tidal interaction ∼100 Myr ago and is now strongly affected by ram pressure stripping. Deep VLA radio continuum observations at 6 and 20 cm are presented. We detect prominent extraplanar emission to the west of the galactic center, which extends twice as far as the other tracers of extraplanar material. The spectral index of the extraplanar emission does not steepen with increasing distance from the galaxy. This implies in situ re-acceleration of relativistic electrons. The comparison with multiwavelength observations shows that the magnetic field and the warm ionized interstellar medium traced by Hα emission are closely linked. The kinematics of the northern extraplanar Hα emission, which is ascribed to star formation, follow those of the extraplanar CO emission. In the western and southern extraplanar regions, the Hα measured velocities are greater than those of the CO lines. We suggest that the ionized gas of this region is excited by ram pressure. The spatial and velocity offsets are consistent with a scenario where the diffuse ionized gas is more efficiently pushed by ram pressure stripping than the neutral gas. We suggest that the recently found radio-deficient regions compared to 24 μm emission are due to this difference in stripping efficiency.

The influence of the cluster environment on the star formation efficiency of 12 Virgo spiral galaxies

The influence of the environment on gas surface density and star formation efficiency of cluster spiral galaxies is investigated. We extend previous work on radial profiles by a pixel-to pixel analysis looking for asymmetries due to environmental interactions. The star formation rate is derived from GALEX UV and Spitzer total infrared data based on the 8, 24, 70, and 160 μm data. As in field galaxies, the star formation rate for most Virgo galaxies is approximately proportional to the molecular gas mass. Except for NGC 4438, the cluster environment does not affect the star formation efficiency with respect to the molecular gas. Gas truncation is not associated with major changes in the total gas surface density distribution of the inner disk of Virgo spiral galaxies. In three galaxies (NGC 4430, NGC 4501, and NGC 4522), possible increases in the molecular fraction and the star formation efficiency with respect to the total gas, of factors of 1.5 to 2, are observed on the windward side of the galactic disk. A significant increase of the star formation efficiency with respect to the molecular gas content on the windward side of ram pressure-stripped galaxies is not observed. The ram-pressure stripped extraplanar gas of 3 highly inclined spiral galaxies (NGC 4330, NGC 4438, and NGC 4522) shows a depressed star formation efficiency with respect to the total gas, and one of them (NGC 4438) shows a depressed rate even with respect to the molecular gas. The interpretation is that stripped gas loses the gravitational confinement and associated pressure of the galactic disk, and the gas flow is diverging, so the gas density decreases and the star formation rate drops. We found two such regions of low star formation efficiency in the more face-on galaxies NGC 4501 and NGC 4654 which are both undergoing ram pressure stripping. These regions show low radio continuum emission or unusually steep radio spectral index. However, the stripped extraplanar gas in one highly inclined galaxy (NGC 4569) shows a normal star formation efficiency with respect to the total gas. We propose this galaxy is different because it is observed long after peak pressure, and its extraplanar gas is now in a converging flow as it resettles back into the disk.

Ram pressure stripping of the multiphase ISM and star formation in the Virgo spiral galaxy NGC 4330

It has been shown that the Virgo spiral galaxy NGC 4330 shows signs of ongoing ram pressure stripping in multiple wavelengths: at the leading edge of the interaction, the Halpha and dust extinction curve sharply out of the disk; on the trailing side, a long Halpha/UV tail has been found which is located upwind of a long HI tail. We complete the multiwavelength study with IRAM 30m HERA CO(2-1) and VLA 6 cm radio continuum observations of NGC 4330. The data are interpreted with the help of a dynamical model including ram pressure and, for the first time, star formation. Our best-fit model reproduces qualitatively the observed projected position, radial velocity of the galaxy, the molecular and atomic gas distribution and velocity field, and the UV distribution in the region where a gas tail is present. However, the observed red UV color on the windward side is currently not reproduced by the model. Based on our model, the galaxy moves to the north and still approaches the cluster center with the closest approach occurring in ~100 Myr. In contrast to other Virgo spiral galaxies affected by ram pressure stripping, NGC 4330 does not show an asymmetric ridge of polarized radio continuum emission. We suggest that this is due to the relatively slow compression of the ISM and the particular projection of NGC 4330. The observed offset between the HI and UV tails is well reproduced by our model. Since collapsing and starforming gas clouds decouple from the ram pressure wind, the UV-emitting young stars have the angular momentum of the gas at the time of their creation. On the other hand, the gas is constantly pushed by ram pressure. The reaction (phase change, star formation) of the multiphase ISM (molecular, atomic, ionized) to ram pressure is discussed in the framework of our dynamical model.

The influence of the cluster environment on the large-scale radio continuum emission of 8 Virgo cluster spirals

The influence of the environment on the polarized and total power radio continuum emission of cluster spiral galaxies is investigated. We present deep scaled array VLA 20 and 6 cm observations including polarization of 8 Virgo spiral galaxies. These data are combined with existing optical, Hi ,a nd Hα data. Ram pressure compression leads to sharp edges of the total power distribution at one side of the galactic disk. These edges coincide with Hi edges. In edge-on galaxies the extraplanar radio emission can extend further than the Hi emission. In the same galaxies asymmetric gradients in the degree of polarization give additional information on the ram pressure wind direction. The local total power emission is not sensitive to the effects of ram pressure. The radio continuum spectrum might flatten in the compressed region only for very strong ram pressure. This implies that neither the local star formation rate nor the turbulent small-scale magnetic field are significantly affected by ram pressure. Ram pressure compression occurs mainly on large scales (>1 kpc) and is primarily detectable in polarized radio continuum emission.

Large-scale radio continuum properties of 19 Virgo cluster galaxies - The influence of tidal interactions, ram pressure stripping, and accreting gas envelopes

Deep scaled array VLA 20 and 6 cm observations including polarization of 19 Virgo spiral galaxies are presented extending previous work on the influence of the cluster environment on the radio continuum properties of Virgo cluster spiral galaxies. This sample contains six galaxies with a global minimum of 20 cm polarized emission at the receding side of the galactic disk and quadrupolar type large-scale magnetic fields. In the new sample no additional case of a ram-pressure stripped spiral galaxy with an asymmetric ridge of polarized radio continuum emission was found. In the absence of a close companion, a truncated Hi disk, together with a ridge of polarized radio continuum emission at the outer edge of the Hi disk, is a signpost of ram pressure stripping. Six out of the 19 observed galaxies (NGC 4294, NGC 4298, NGC 4457, NGC 4532, NGC 4568, NGC 4808) display asymmetric 6 cm polarized emission distributions. Three galaxies belong to tidally interacting pairs (NGC 4294, NGC 4298, NGC 4568), two galaxies host huge accreting Hi envelopes (NGC 4532, NGC 4808), and one galaxy (NGC 4457) had a recent minor merger. Tidal interactions and accreting gas envelopes can lead to compression and shear motions which enhance the polarized radio continuum emission. The resulting asymmetries are located within the Hi distribution. The 6 cm average degree of polarization only correlates with the galaxy mass or rotation velocity. In addition, galaxies with low average star formation rate per unit area have a low average degree of polarization. Shear or compression motions can enhance the degree of polarization. The average degree of polarization of tidally interacting galaxies is generally lower than expected for a given rotation velocity and star formation activity. This low average degree of polarization is at least partly due to the absence of polarized emission from the thin disk. Ram pressure stripping can decrease whereas tidal interactions most frequently decreases the average degree of polarization of Virgo cluster spiral galaxies. We found that moderate active ram pressure stripping has no influence on the spectral index, but enhances the global radio continuum emission with respect to the FIR emission, while an accreting gas envelope can but not necessarily enhances the radio continuum emission with respect to the FIR emission.