L. Verdes-Montenegro

Where is the neutral atomic gas in Hickson groups

We have analyzed the total HI contents of 72 Hickson compact groups of galaxies (HCGs) and the detailed spatial distributions and kinematics of HI within a subset of 16 groups using the high angular resolution observations obtained with the VLA in order to investigate a possible evolutionary scenario for these densest systems in the present day galaxy hierarchy. For the more homogeneous subsample of 48 groups, we found a mean HI deciency of DefHI =0 :40 0:07, which corresponds to 40% of the expected HI for the optical luminosities and morphological types of the member galaxies. The individual galaxies show larger degrees of deciency than the groups globally, DefHI =0 :62 0:09 (24% of the expected HI), due in most cases to ecient gas stripping from individual galaxies into the group environment visible in the VLA maps. The degree of deciency is found to be similar to the central galaxies of Virgo and Coma cluster, and Coma I group, in spite of the signicantly dierent characteristics (number of galaxies, velocity dispersion) of these environments. It does not seem plausible that a signicant amount of extended HI has been missed by the observations. Hence phase transformation of the atomic gas should explain the HI deciency. The groups richer in early type galaxies or more compact with larger velocity dispersions show a weak tendency to be more HI decient. The detection rate of HCGs at X-ray wavelengths is larger for HI decient groups, although the hot gas distribution and hence its origin is only known for a few cases. In the evolutionary scenario we propose, the amount of detected HI would decrease further with evolution, by continuous tidal stripping and/or heating. The H2 content also tends to be lower than expected for the galaxies in HI decient groups, this may suggest that the HI stripping by frequent tidal interaction breaks the balance between the disruption of molecular clouds by star formation and the replenishment from the ambient HI.

The AMIGA project - I. Optical characterization of the CIG catalog

The AMIGA project (Analysis of the Interstellar Medium of Isolated Galaxies) is compiling a multiwavelength database of isolated galaxies that includes optical (B and Hα), infrared (FIR and NIR) and radio (continuum plus HI and CO lines) properties. It involves a refinement of the pioneering Catalog of Isolated Galaxies. This paper is the first in a series and begins with analysis of the global properties of the nearly redshift-complete CIG with emphasis on the Optical Luminosity Function (OLF) which we compare with other recent estimates of the OLF for a variety of environments. The CIG redshift distribution for n = 956 galaxies re-enforces the evidence for a bimodal structure seen earlier in smaller samples. The peaks at redshift near 1500 and 6000 km s −1 , corresponding respectively to galaxies in the local supercluster and those in more distant large-scale components (particularly Perseus-Pisces). The two peaks in the redshift distribution are superimposed on 50% or more of the sample that is distributed in a much more homogeneous way. The CIG probably represents the most homogeneous local field example that has ever been compiled. Our derivation of the CIG OLF is consistent with other studies of the OLF for lower density environments. This comparison via the Schechter parameter formalization shows that: 1) M ∗ increases with galaxy surface density on the sky and 2) α shows a weaker tendency to do the same. The CIG represents the largest and most complete foundation for studies of isolated galaxies and is likely as close as we can come to a field sample.

The AMIGA sample of isolated galaxies. V. Quantification of the isolation

Context. The AMIGA project aims to build a well defined and statistically significant reference sample of isolated galaxies in order to estimate the environmental effects on the formation and evolution of galaxies. Aims. The goal of this paper is to provide a measure of the environment of the isolated galaxies in the AMIGA sample, quantifying the influence of the candidate neighbours identified in our previous work and their potential effects on the evolution of the primary galaxies. Here we provide a quantification of the isolation degree of the galaxies in this sample. Methods. Our starting sample is the Catalogue of Isolated Galaxies (CIG). We used two parameters to estimate the influence exerted by the neighbour galaxies on the CIG galaxy: the local number density of neighbour galaxies and the tidal strength affecting the CIG galaxy. We show that both parameters together provide a comprehensive picture of the environment. For comparison, those parameters have also been derived for galaxies in denser environments such as triplets, groups and clusters. Results. The CIG galaxies show a continuous spectrum of isolation, as quantified by the two parameters, from very isolated to interacting. The fraction of CIG galaxies whose properties are expected to be influenced by the environment is however low (159 out of 950 galaxies). The isolated parameters derived for the comparison samples gave higher values than for the CIG and we found clear differences for the average values of the 4 samples considered, proving the sensitivity of these parameters. Conclusions. The environment of the galaxies in the CIG has been characterised, using two complementary parameters quantifying the isolation degree, the local number density of the neighbour galaxies and the tidal forces affecting the isolated galaxies. A final catalogue of galaxies has been produced and the most isolated of these galaxies are consequently appropriate to serve as a reference sample for the AMIGA project.

A Multiwavelength Study of Stephan's Quintet

Stephans Quintet (SQ) is a compact group that we find in an atypical moment when a high-velocity intruder is passing through it. The intrusion is particularly interesting because a previous intruder had stripped most of the gas from the group members. This debris field was shocked in the ongoing collision with the new intruder. This evolutionary history agrees well with observations and explains how a strongly interacting system can show low levels of star formation. We present new multiwavelength data including previously unpublished ROSAT X-ray, Hα interference filter/Fabry-Perot, ISO MIR/FIR, and radio line and continuum images. These observations and previously published data provide new insights, as well as support for some previous hypotheses. (1) Fabry-Perot and H I velocities allow us to unambiguously distinguish between gas associated with SQ and the new intruder. (2) Most detected emission regions are found in the remnant interstellar medium (ISM) of the new intruder, which allows us to infer its size and present physical state. (3) The few emission regions associated with the stripped ISM of SQ include the best candidate tidal dwarf galaxy. (4) Multiwavelength data suggest that strong MIR/FIR emission from the Seyfert 2 nucleus of NGC 7319 comes from dust heated directly by a power-law continuum rather than a starburst. (5) The correspondence between extended X-ray/radio continuum/forbidden optical emission confirms the existence of a large scale shock in SQ. (6) We confirm the presence of two stripped spiral members in the process of transformation into E/S0 morphology. Finally (7) observations are consistent with the idea that the collision in SQ is ongoing with possible detection of H II region ablation and Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities.

The AMIGA sample of isolated galaxies - IX. Molecular gas properties

Aims. We characterize the molecular gas content (ISM cold phase) using CO emission of a redshift-limited subsample of isolated galaxies from the AMIGA (Analysis of the interstellar Medium of Isolated GAlaxies) project in order to provide a comparison sample for studies of galaxies in different environments. Methods. We present the 12 CO(1–0) data for 273 AMIGA galaxies, most of them (n = 186) from our own observations with the IRAM 30 m and the FCRAO 14 m telescopes and the rest from the literature. We constructed a redshift-limited sample containing galaxies with 1500 km s −1 <v< 5000 km s −1 and excluded objects with morphological evidence of possible interaction. This sample (n = 173) is the basis for our statistical analysis. It contains galaxies with molecular gas masses, MH2 , in the range of ∼10 8 −10 10 M� .I t is dominated, both in absolute number and in detection rate, by spiral galaxies of type T = 3–5 (Sb-Sc). Most galaxies were observed with a single pointing towards their centers. Therefore, we performed an extrapolation to the total molecular gas mass expected in the entire disk based on the assumption of an exponential distribution. We then studied the relationships between MH2 and other galactic properties (LB, D 2 , LK, LFIR ,a ndMHI). Results. We find correlations between MH2 and LB, D 2 , LK ,a ndLFIR. The tightest correlation of MH2 holds with LFIR and, for T = 3– 5, with LK, and the poorest with D 2 . The correlations with LFIR and LK are very close to linearity. The correlation with LB is nonlinear so that MH2 /LB increases with LB. The molecular and the atomic gas masses of our sample show no strong correlation. We find a low mean value, log(MH2 /MHI) = −0.7 (for T = 3–5), and a strong decrease in this ratio with morphological type. The molecular gas column density and the surface density of the star formation rate (the Kennicutt-Schmidt law) show a tight correlation with a rough unity slope. We compare the relations of MH2 with LB and LK found for AMIGA galaxies to samples of interacting galaxies from the literature and find an indication for an enhancement of the molecular gas in interacting galaxies of up to 0.2–0.3 dex.

The AMIGA sample of isolated galaxies III. IRAS data and infrared diagnostics

Aims. We describe the mid- (MIR) and far- (FIR) infrared properties of a large (∼1000) sample of the most isolated galaxies in the local Universe. This sample is intended as a “nurture-free” zero point against which more environmentally influenced samples can be compared. Methods. We reprocess IRAS MIR/FIR survey data using the ADDSCAN/SCANPI utility for 1030 out of 1050 galaxies from the Catalogue of Isolated Galaxies (CIG) as part of the AMIGA project. We focus on diagnostics (FIR luminosity LFIR, R = log(LFIR/LB), and IRAS colours) thought to be sensitive to effects of environment or interaction. Results. The distribution of log(LFIR) sharply peaks from 9.0–10.5, with very few (<2%) galaxies above 10.5. Review of available optical images of the most FIR luminous galaxies finds the majority likely to be interacting systems missed in our earlier morphological reevaluation. The optically normalised luminosity diagnostic R = log(LFIR/LB) shows a sharply peaked distribution between 0.0 and −1.0. These results were compared to the magnitude limited sample of the Center for Astrophysics that was selected without environmental discrimination. This modestly (e.g., compared to cluster, binary galaxy, and compact group samples) environmentally affected sample shows a significantly higher mean log(LFIR), and R, whereas the mean log(LB) is the same. Our sample shows a strong LFIR vs. LB correlation, with a slope steeper than one (LFIR ∝ L 1.41 B ). Interacting galaxies were found above this correlation, showing an enhancement in LFIR. With respect to the IRAS colours, we found higher F60/F100 values for ellipticals and late-type galaxies than for spirals, indicating a higher dust temperature. The mean value of F60/F100 was found to be lower than for interacting samples from the literature. Conclusions. The results indicate that the FIR emission is a variable enhanced by interaction, and that our sample probably shows the lowest possible mean value. This attests to the utility of our sample for defining a nurture-free zero point.

The AMIGA sample of isolated galaxies - II. Morphological refinement

Received / accepted Abstract. We present a complete refinement of the optical morphologies for galaxies in the Catalog of Isolated Galaxies (Karachentseva 1973) that forms the basis of the AMIGA (Analysis of the interstellar Medium of Isolated GAlaxies) project. Uniform reclassification using the digitized POSS II benefit ed from the high resolution and dynamic range of that sky survey. Comparison with independent classifications made for an SDS S overlap sample of more than 200 galaxies confirms the reli- ability of the early vs. late-type discrimination and the ac curacy of spiral subtypes withinT = 1-2. CCD images taken at the Observatorio de Sierra Nevada were also used to solve ambiguities in early versus late-type classifications. A consi derable number of galaxies in the catalog (n = 193) are flagged for the presence of nearby companions or sign s of distortion likely due to interaction. This most isolated sample of galaxies in the local Universe is dominated by two populations: 1) 82% spirals (Sa-Sd) with the bulk being luminous systems with small bulges (63% between types Sb-Sc) and 2) a significant population o f early-type E-S0 galaxies (14%). Most of the types later than Sd are low luminosity galaxies concentrated in the local superclus- ter where isolation is diffi cult to evaluate. The late-type spiral majority of the sampl e spans a luminosity range MB−corr =−18 to −22 mag. Few of the E/S0 population are more luminous than−21.0 marking an absence of, an often sought, super L ∗ merger (e.g. fossil elliptical) population. The rarity of high lum inosity systems results in a fainter derived M ∗ for this population com- pared to the spiral optical luminosity function (OLF). The E-S0 population is from 0.2 to 0.6 mag fainter depending how the sample is defined. This marks the AMIGA sample as almost unique among samples that compare early and late-type OLFs sep- arately. In other samples, which always involve galaxies in higher density environments, M ∗/S0 is almost always 0.3-0.5 mag brighter than M ∗, presumably reflecting a stronger correlation between M ∗ and environmental density for early-type galaxies.

Ammonia observations of outflow regions

Observations of the (J,K) = (1,1) ammonia transition toward the suspected exciting sources of 12 regions with molecular or optical outflows are presented. In nine of these regions, ammonia emission was detected and mapped. The spatial coincidence of the high-density gas in the proposed exciting sources in five of the mapped regions supports the identification as exciting sources. A new location is proposed for the outflow exciting sources of L1524 (Haro 6-10) and HH 38,43. Also, in L1448, a radio continuum source and an unusually strong H2O maser coinciding with the maximum ammonia emission is detected. It is proposed that this region is the site of very recent star formation. 73 refs.

Star formation in isolated AMIGA galaxies: dynamical influence of bars

Context. Star formation depends strongly both on the local environment of galaxies, and on the internal dynamics of the interstel lar medium. To disentangle the two effects, we obtained, in the framework of the AMIGA project, Hα and Gunn r photometric data for more than 200 spiral galaxies lying in very low-density regions of the local Universe. Aims. We characterise the Hα emission, tracing current star formation, of the 45 largest and less inclined galaxies observed for which we estimate the torques between the gas and the bulk of the optical matter. We could subsequently study the Hα morphological aspect of these isolated spiral galaxies. Methods. Using Fourier analysis, we focus on the modes of the spiral arms and also on the strength of the bars, computing the torques between the gas and newly formed stars (Hα) and the bulk of the optical matter (Gunn r). Results. We interpret the various bar/spiral morphologies observed in terms of the secular evolution experienced by galaxies in isolation. We also classify the different spatial distributions of star forming regions in barr ed galaxies. The observed frequency of particular patterns brings constraints on the lifetime of t he various evolution phases. We propose an evolutive sequence accounting for the transitions between the different phases we could observe. Conclusions. Isolated galaxies appear not to be preferentially barred or unbarred. Through numerical simulations, trying to fit the Hα distributions yields constraints on the star formation law, which is likely to differ from a genuine Schmidt law. In particular, it is probable that the relative velocity of the gas in the bar also needs to be taken into account.

The AMIGA sample of isolated galaxies XI. Optical characterisation of nuclear activity

Context. This paper is part of a series involving the AMIGA project (Analysis of the Interstellar Medium of Isolated GAlaxies), which identifies and studies a statistically significant sample of the most isolated galaxies in the northern sky. Aims. We present a catalogue of nuclear activity, traced by optical emission lines, in a well-defined sample of the most isolated galaxies in the local Universe, which will be used as a basis for studying the effect of the environment on nuclear activity. Methods. We obtained spectral data from the 6th Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which were inspected in a semiautomatic way. We subtracted the underlying stellar populations from the spectra (using the software Starlight) and modelled the nuclear emission features. Standard emission-line diagnostics diagrams were applied, using a new classification scheme that takes into account censored data, to classify the type of nuclear emission. Results. We provide a final catalogue of spectroscopic data, stellar populations, emission lines and classification of optical nuclear activity for AMIGA galaxies. The prevalence of optical active galactic nuclei (AGN) in AMIGA galaxies is 20.4%, or 36.7% including transition objects. The fraction of AGN increases steeply towards earlier morphological types and higher luminosities. We compare these results with a matched analysis of galaxies in isolated denser environments (Hickson Compact Groups). After correcting for the effects of the morphology and luminosity, we find that there is no evidence for a difference in the prevalence of AGN between isolated and compact group galaxies, and we discuss the implications of this result. Conclusions. We find that a major interaction is not a necessary condition for the triggering of optical AGN.