M. C. Eliche-Moral

Formation of S0 galaxies through mergers - Bulge-disc structural coupling resulting from major mergers

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 (67 major and 29 minor mergers). 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, and they distribute in the B/T - r_e - h_d parameter space consistently with real bright S0s, where B/T is the bulge-to-total luminosity ratio, r_e is the bulge effective radius, and h_d is the disc scalelength. Major mergers can rebuild a bulge-disc coupling in the remnants after having destroyed the structures of the progenitors, whereas minor mergers directly preserve them. Remnants exhibit B/T and r_e/h_d spanning a wide range of values, and their distribution is consistent with observations. Many remnants have bulge Sersic indices ranging 1<n<2, flat appearance, and contain residual star formation in embedded discs, a result which agrees with the presence of pseudobulges in real S0s. Contrary to the popular view, mergers (and in particular, major events) can result in S0 remnants with realistically coupled bulge-disc structures in less than ~3 Gyr. In conclusion, the bulge-disc coupling and the presence of pseudobulges in real S0s cannot be used as an argument against the possible major-merger origin of these galaxies.

On the buildup of massive early-type galaxies at z<~1. I- Reconciling their hierarchical assembly with mass-downsizing

Context. Several studies have tried to ascertain whether the increase in abundance of the early-type galaxies (E-S0as) with time is mainly due to major mergers, but have reached opposite conclusions. Aims. We have tested it directly through semi-analytical modelling, quantifying the possible contribution of the observed major mergers to the evolution of the high-mass end of the galaxy luminosity function (LF). Methods. The model analyses the backwards-in-time evolution of the massive early-type galaxies with log(M_*/M_⨀) > 11 at z∼0 (mETGs) under the hypothesis that each major merger leads to an early-type galaxy. The model considers only the major mergers strictly reported by observations at each redshift and assumes that gas-rich major mergers experience transitory phases as dust-reddened, star-forming galaxies (DSFs). Results. The model is able to reproduce the observed evolution of the galaxy LFs at z ≲ 1 simultaneously for different rest-frame bands (B, I, and K) and for different selection criteria on colour and morphology. It also provides a framework in which apparently contradictory results on the recent evolution of the LF of massive red galaxies can be reconciled, just considering that observed samples of red galaxies can be significantly contaminated by DSFs. The model proves that it is feasible to build up ∼50-60% of the present-day number density of mETGs at z≲1 through the coordinated action of wet, mixed, and dry major mergers, fulfilling global trends that are in general agreement with mass downsizing. The bulk of this assembly takes place during ∼1 Gyr elapsed at 0.8 < z < 1, providing a straightforward explanation for the observed fact that redshift z ∼ 0.8 is a transition epoch in the formation of mETGs. The gas-rich progenitors of these recently assembled mETGs reproduce the observed excess by a factor of ∼4-5 of late-type galaxies at 0.8 < z < 1 naturally, as compared to pure luminosity evolution (PLE) models. Conclusions. The model suggests that major mergers have been the main driver for the observed mass migration from the massive end of the blue galaxy cloud to that of the red sequence in the past ∼8 Gyr.

Formation of S0 galaxies through mergers : explaining angular momentum and concentration change from spirals to S0s

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 λRe-R90/R50 plane found by the CALIFA team. Major mergers thus offer a feasible explanation for the transformation of spirals into S0s. Table 1 is available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Star-forming galaxies at low-redshift in the SHARDS survey

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 [OIII]5007 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 [OIII]5007 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 ~10^(8.5) 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.

Formation of S0 galaxies through mergers: Morphological properties: tidal relics, lenses, ovals, and other inner components⋆

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 similar to 1-2 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.

Deconstructing the K-Band Number Counts

We present a study that links the Number Counts (NCs) to the rest-frame luminosity functions (LFs) at the passbands probed by the observed K-band at different epochs. Making use of a large K-band selected sample in the Groth Field, HDFN and CDFS ( ∼ 0. 27 deg2), we have derived highly reliable photometric redshift estimates that allow us to estimate LFs in the redshift range (0.25–1.25). We find that the larger flattening in the slope of the K-band NCs is mostly a consequence of a prominent decrease in the characteristic density (ϕ ∗) around z ∼ 1, and an almost flat evolution of M∗.

The Buildup of E–S0 Galaxies at z < 2 from Pure Luminosity Evolution Models

Considering that the recent history of E–S0 galaxies can be approximated by Pure Luminosity Evolution (PLE), we have examined a set of PLE models in order to delimit the epoch in which the majority of the red galaxy population moved away from this simple evolution framework. The models assume that they were assembled and formed most of their stars at a given formation redshift (z f), and that they have evolved without merging or substantial dust obscuration since then. Comparing the model predictions with real data, we conclude that most of E–S0’s at low and intermediate luminosities must have been progressively built up at 1 < z < 2, being the bulk of formation at z ∼ 1. 5, as recently claimed by several observational studies.