Compact Group Of Galaxies HCG Research Articles

VEGAS: A VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey

Context. In this paper, we present ultra-deep images of the compact group of galaxies HCG 86 as part of the VEGAS survey. Aims. Our main goals are to estimate the amount of intra-group light (IGL) as well as to study the light and colour distributions in order to address the main formation process of the IGL component in groups of galaxies. Methods. We derived the azimuthally averaged surface brightness profiles in the g, r, and i bands with g − r and r − i average colours and colour profiles for all group members. By fitting the light distribution, we extrapolated the contribution of the stellar halos plus the diffuse light from the brightest component of each galaxy. The results are compared with theoretical predictions. Results. The long integration time and wide area covered make our data reach deeper than previous literature studies of the IGL in compact groups of galaxies and allow us to produce an extended (∼160 kpc) map of the IGL, down to a surface brightness level of ∼30 mag arcsec−2 in the g band. The IGL in HCG 86 is mainly in diffuse form and has average colours of g − r ∼ 0.8 mag and r − i ∼ 0.4 mag. The fraction of IGL in HCG 86 is ∼16% of the total luminosity of the group, and this is consistent with estimates available for other compact groups and loose groups of galaxies of similar virial masses. A weak trend is present between the amount of IGL and the early-type to late-type galaxy ratio. A lack of a clear correlation is found between the amount of diffuse light and the cluster or group virial mass. Conclusions. By comparing the IGL fraction and colours with those predicted by simulations, the amount of IGL in HCG 86 would be the result of the disruption of satellites at an epoch of z ∼ 0.4. At this redshift, the observed colours are consistent with the scenario where the main contribution to the mass of the IGL comes from the intermediate-to-massive galaxies (1010 ≤ M* ≤ 1011 M⊙).

A 3D analysis of the metal distribution in the compact group of galaxies HCG 31

AbstractWe present new Gemini/GMOS integral field unit observations of the central region of the merging compact group of galaxies HCG 31. Using this data set, we derive the oxygen abundances for the merging galaxies HCG 31A and HCG 31C. We found a smooth metallicity gradient between the nuclei of these galaxies, suggesting a mixing of metals between these objects. These results are confirmed by high-resolution Fabry-Perot data, from which we infer that gas is flowing between HCG 31A and HCG 31C.

CAVITIES AND SHOCKS IN THE GALAXY GROUP HCG 62 AS REVEALED BYCHANDRA,XMM-NEWTON, AND GIANT METREWAVE RADIO TELESCOPE DATA

We report on the results of an analysis of Chandra, XMM-Newton and new GMRT data of the X-ray bright compact group of galaxies HCG 62, which is one of the few groups known to possess clear, small X-ray cavities in the inner regions. This is part of an ongoing X-ray/low-frequency radio study of 18 groups, initially chosen for the availability of good-quality X-ray data and evidence for AGN/hot gas interaction. At higher frequency (1.4 GHz), the HCG 62 cavity system shows minimal if any radio emission, but the new GMRT observations at 235 MHz and 610 MHz clearly detect extended low-frequency emission from radio lobes corresponding to the cavities. By means of the synergy of X-ray and low-frequency radio observations, we compare and discuss the morphology, luminosity and pressure of the gas and of the radio source. We find that the radio source is radiatively inefficient, with a ratio of radio luminosity to mechanical cavity power of $\sim 10^{-4}$, and that the radio pressure of the lobes is about one order of magnitude lower than the X-ray pressure of the surrounding thermal gas. Thanks to the high spatial resolution of the Chandra surface brightness and temperature profiles, we also identify a shock front located at 36 kpc to the south-west of the group center, close to the southern radio lobe, with a Mach number $\sim 1.5$ and a total power which is about one order of magnitude higher than the cavity power. Such a shock may have heated the gas in the southern region, as indicated by the temperature map. The shock may also explain the arc-like region of enriched gas seen in the iron abundance map, as this may be produced by a non-Maxwellian electron distribution near its front.

Suzaku Observation of HCG 62: Temperature, Abundance, and Extended Hard X-Ray Emission Profiles

Abstract The compact group of galaxies HCG 62 ($z=$ 0.0145) was observed for 120ks with Suzaku XIS and HXD-PIN. The XIS spectra for four annular regions were fitted with a two-temperature vapec model with variable abundance, combined with the foreground Galactic component. The Galactic component was described by a two-temperature apec model, and constrained to have a common surface brightness among the four annuli. We confirmed the multi-temperature nature of the intra-group medium, as reported previously, with a doughnut-like high temperature ring at radii 3.3'-6.5'. Abundances of Mg, Si, S, and Fe were well-constrained. We examined the possible “high-abundance arc” at $\sim 2'$ southwest from the center; however, Suzaku data did not confirm it. We suspect that it is a misidentification of an excess hot component in this region as the Fe line. Neither XIS (5-12keV) nor HXD-PIN (12-40keV) gave positive detection of the extended hard X-rays previously reported with ASCA, although our upper limit did not exclude the ASCA result. The 5-12keV intensity in the $r <$ 3.3' region turned out to be 70$\pm$19% higher than the nominal CXB level, and Chandra and Suzaku data suggest a concentration of hard X-ray sources with an average photon index of $\Gamma=$ 1.38$\pm$0.06. The cumulative mass of O, Fe, and Mg in the intra-group medium and the metal mass-to-light ratio were compared with those in other groups. The possible role of AGN or galaxy mergers in this group is also discussed.

A High‐Abundance Arc in the Compact Group of Galaxies HCG 62: An AGN‐ or Merger‐Induced Metal Outflow?

We present a Chandra study of the metal distribution in the X-ray bright compact group of galaxies HCG 62. We find that the diffuse X-ray emission is peaked at the core of the central galaxy NGC 4778 and is dominated by the contribution of the hot gas. The diffuse emission is roughly symmetric within ≃0.25', which is straddled by double-sided X-ray cavities aligned in the northeast-southwest direction. By mapping the emission hardness ratio distributions and by performing a two-dimensional spectral analysis, we identify a remarkable high-abundance arc region at about 2' (33.6 h kpc) from the X-ray peak that spans over a vast region from south to northwest, a part of which roughly coincides with the outer edge of the southwest X-ray cavity. The measured average abundance in this arc is higher than that in its neighboring regions by a factor of about 2, and the abundance ratios therein are nicely consistent with the dominance of the SN Ia yields. We estimate that the mass of iron contained in the arc is >3 × 106 h M☉, which accounts for >3% of the iron synthesized in the galaxy. The high-abundance arc could have been formed by AGN activity. However, it is also possible that the arc was formed in a recent merger, as implied by the recent optical kinematic study by Spavone and colleagues, which suggests that mergers may be as important as AGN activity in metal redistributions in early-type galaxies and their associated groups or clusters.

The Compact Group of Galaxies HCG 31 in an Early Phase of Merging

We have obtained high spectral resolution (R = 45,900) Fabry-Perot velocity maps of the Hickson compact group HCG 31 in order to revisit the important problem of the merger nature of the central object A+C and to derive the internal kinematics of the candidate tidal dwarf galaxies in this group. Our main findings are as follows: (1) double kinematic components are present throughout the main body of A+C, which strongly suggests that this complex is an ongoing merger; (2) regions A2 and E, to the east and south of complex A+C, present rotation patterns with velocity amplitudes of ~25 km s-1, and they counterrotate with respect to A+C; and (3) region F, which was previously thought to be the best example of a tidal dwarf galaxy in HCG 31, presents no rotation and negligible internal velocity dispersion, as is also the case for region A1. HCG 31 presents an undergoing merger in its center (A+C), and it is likely that it has suffered additional perturbations due to interactions with the nearby galaxies B, G, and Q.

The detection of diffuse emission in HCG 16 with XMM-Newton

We report results obtained from analysis of the XMM-Newton observation of the compact group of galaxies HCG 16. It is a peculiar system composed of 7 spirals, 6 of which are active, and its nature as a bound system has been much debated. The EPIC camera observations give new insights into the X-ray parameters describing the physical status of the group. We detect diffuse X-ray emission with a rather elliptical morphology which extends to at least a radius of 135 h^{-1}_{50} kpc from the group centre. The spectrum within this region is well modelled by a thermal plasma with a temperature of 0.49+/-0.17 keV, and a non-zero metallicity. We measure a bolometric X-ray luminosity of 9.6 10{^40} h^{-2}_{50} erg/s which may be only a small fraction of the total luminosity because of the limit in spatial detection arising from the high background level. Despite its low temperature and luminosity, HCG 16 obeys the Lx-T relation obtained for brighter galaxy groups even if it lies in a very extreme position. The properties of the diffuse emission confirm the bound nature of HCG 16 even if the gas trapped in the potential well may not yet be virialized. This reopens the debate about the real nature of spiral-dominated galaxy groups, and on their role in a more general cosmological context.

Neutral Hydrogen in HCG 95

AbstractWe have observed Hɪ emission and radio continuum emission from the compact group of galaxies HCG 95 with the Very Large Array (VLA)1. Two continuum sources coincide in with galaxies in this group: HCG 95 B (3.9 mJy) and HCG95C (6 mJy). Hɪ emission and absorption was detected in galaxy HCG 95 C. In addition we detected two so far unknown dwarf galaxies by their Hɪ emission within 3.5 arcmin of the group center. We did not detect galaxy b (with ç = 8000 kms−1 it is obviously a foreground object) and galaxy d — an edge-on Sc galaxy. This group definitely is Hɪ deficient compared with the average Hɪ content expected for spiral galaxies of the same luminosity and type. The first-ranked elliptical galaxy HCG 95 A might be responsible for the observed Hɪ deficiency in this group.

The Kinematics of the Warm Gas in the Interacting Hickson Compact Group of Galaxies HCG 90

We present kinematic observations of H$\alpha$ emission for two early-type galaxies and one disk system, members of the Hickson compact group 90 (HCG 90) obtained with a scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer and samplings of 16 $km$ $s^{-1}$ and 1$\arcsec$. Mapping of the gas kinematics was possible to $\sim$ 2 r$_{eff}$ for the disk galaxy N7174 and to $\sim$ 1.3 r$_{eff}$ and $\sim$ 1.7 r$_{eff}$ for the early-type galaxies N7176 and N7173 respectively. Evidence for ongoing interaction was found in the properties of the warm gas of the three galaxies, some of which do not have stellar counterparts. We suggest the following evolutionary scenario for the system. H90d is the warm gas reservoir of the group in process of fueling H90b with gas. H90c and d have experienced past interaction with gas exchange. The gas acquired by H90c has already settled and relaxed but the effects of the interaction can still be visible in the morphology of the two galaxies and their stellar kinematics. This process will possibly result in a major merger.

The Onset of a Three-Galaxy Merger in the Compact Group of Galaxies HCG 95?

In this Letter we report new evidence for a close three-galaxy interaction in the compact group of galaxies HCG 95. Deep optical imaging in the Johnson UBVRI bands and in narrowband Hα have shown four long tidal tails emanating from the two disk galaxies as well as signs of transfer of material between one of the tidal tails and the elliptical galaxy of the system. An unusual color gradient, likely related to an obscuring patch of dust, has been found in the elliptical galaxy. This fact, together with the morphology observed for the extended Hα emission of the elliptical galaxy, gives further support to the thesis of the transfer of mass between the tidal tail and this galaxy. We argue that these three galaxies will probably merge in a few orbital periods; therefore, this system may represent a useful empirical test of what theoretical models have predicted for the evolution of compact groups.

VLA observations of hydrogen in HCG 18

We present images of the neutral hydrogen (H I) in the direction of the compact group of galaxies HCG 18. This H I emission is identified with a single cloud, centered on the galaxies b, c, and d and smoothly distributed over a region twice the size of the compact group. The cloud appears to be in regular rotation with a period no longer than 8 X 10^8^ yr. The systematic velocity of the gas lies within 1σ of the mean velocity of the group; however, the cloud is not clearly associated with any particular galaxy, but surrounds all three, which may be one irregular galaxy.