Effects Of Ram Pressure Stripping Research Articles

Virgo cluster and field dwarf ellipticals in 3D – I. On the variety of stellar kinematic and line-strength properties

We present the first large-scale stellar kinematic and line-strength maps for dwarf elliptical galaxies (9 in the Virgo Cluster and 3 in the field environment) obtained with the SAURON integral-field unit. No two galaxies in our sample are alike: we see that the level of rotation is not tied to flattening (we have, e.g. round rotators and flattened nonrotators); we observe kinematic twists in 1 Virgo and 1 field object; we discover large-scale kinematically-decoupled components in 2 field galaxies; we see varying gradients in line-strength maps, from nearly flat to strongly peaked in the center. The great variety of morphological, kinematic, and stellar population parameters seen in our data points to a formation scenario in which properties are shaped stochastically. A combined effect of ram-pressure stripping and galaxy harassment is the most probable explanation. We show the need for a comprehensive analysis of kinematic, dynamical, and stellar population properties which will enable us to place dwarf ellipticals and processes that govern their evolution in the wider context of galaxy formation.

The magnetic fields of large Virgo cluster spirals. II

The Virgo cluster of galaxies provides excellent conditions for studying interactions of galaxies with the cluster environment. Both the high-velocity tidal interactions and effects of ram pressure stripping by the intracluster gas can be investigated in detail. We extend our systematic search for possible anomalies in the magnetic field structures of Virgo cluster spirals in order to characterize a variety of effects and attribute them to different disturbing agents. Six angularly large Virgo cluster spiral galaxies (NGC4192, NGC4302, NGC4303, NGC4321, NGC4388, and NGC4535) were targets of a sensitive total power and polarization study using the 100-m radio telescope in Effelsberg at 4.85GHz and 8.35GHz (except for NGC4388 observed only at 4.85GHz, and NGC4535 observed only at 8.35GHz). Magnetic field structures distorted to various extent are found in all galaxies. Three galaxies (NGC4302, NGC4303, and NGC4321) show some signs of possible tidal interactions, while NGC4388 and NGC4535 have very likely experienced strong ram-pressure and shearing effects, respectively, visible as distortions and asymmetries of polarized intensity distributions. As in our previous study, even strongly perturbed galaxies closely follow the radio-far-infrared correlation. In NGC4303 and NGC4321, we observe symmetric spiral patterns of the magnetic field and in NGC4535 an asymmetric pattern. Magnetic fields allow us to trace even weak interactions that are difficult to detect with other observations. Our results show that the degree of distortions of a galaxy is not a simple function of the distance to the cluster center but reflects also the history of its interactions. The angle between the velocity vector and the rotation vector of a galaxy may be a general parameter that describes the level of distortions of galactic magnetic fields.

Tidal interaction vs. ram pressure stripping effects as seen in X-rays

The hot intracluster/intragroup medium (ICM/IGM) and a high galaxy density can lead to perturbations of the galactic interstellar medium (ISM) due to ram pressure and/or tidal interaction effects. In radio polarimetry observations, both phenomena may manifest similar features. X-ray data can help to determine the real origin of the perturbation. We analyse the distribution and physical properties of the hot gas in the Virgo cluster spiral galaxies NGC 4254 and NGC 4569, which indicate that the cluster environment has had a significant influence on their properties. By performing both spatial and spectral analyses of X-ray data, we try to distinguish between two major phenomena: tidal and ram pressure interactions. We compare our findings with the case of NGC 2276, in which a shock was reported, by analysing XMM-Newton X-ray data for this galaxy. We use archival XMM-Newton observations of NGC 4254, NGC 4569, and NGC 2276. Maps of the soft diffuse emission in the energy band 0.2 - 1 keV are obtained. For the three galaxies, especially at the position of magnetic field enhancements we perform a spectral analysis to derive gas temperatures and thus to look for shock signatures. A shock is a signature of ram pressure resulting from supersonic velocities; weak tidal interactions are not expected to influence the temperature of the ionized gas. In NGC 4254, we do not observe any temperature increase. This suggests tidal interactions rather than ram pressure stripping. In NGC 4569 the radio polarized ridge shows a higher temperature, which may indicate ram-pressure effects. For NGC 2276, we do not find clear indications of a shock. The main driver of the observed distortions is most likely tidal interaction. Determining gas temperatures via sensitive X-ray observations seems to be a good method for distinguishing between ram pressure and tidal interaction effects acting upon a galaxy.

Ram pressure drag - the effects of ram pressure on dark matter and stellar disc dynamics

We investigate the effects of ram pressure stripping on gas-rich disk galaxies in the cluster environment. Ram pressure stripping principally effects the atomic gas in disk galaxies, stripping away outer disk gas to a truncation radius. We demonstrate that the drag force exerted on truncated gas disks is passed to the stellar disk, and surrounding dark matter through their mutual gravity. Using a toy model of ram pressure stripping, we show that this can drag a stellar disk and dark matter cusp off centre within it's dark matter halo by several kiloparsecs. We present a simple analytical description of this process that predicts the drag force strength and its dependency on ram pressures and disk galaxy properties to first order. The motion of the disk can result in temporary deformation of the stellar disk. However we demonstrate that the key source of stellar disk heating is the removal of the gas potential from within the disk. This can result in disk thickening by approximately a factor of two in gas-rich disks.

SPATIALLY RESOLVED SPECTROSCOPY AND CHEMICAL HISTORY OF STAR-FORMING GALAXIES IN THE HERCULES CLUSTER: THE EFFECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Spatially resolved spectroscopy has been obtained for a sample of 27 star-forming (SF) galaxies selected from our deep Halpha survey of the Hercules cluster. We have applied spectral synthesis models to all emission-line spectra of this sample using the population synthesis code STARLIGHT. We have obtained fundamental parameters of the stellar components, as the mean metallicity and age, and we have corrected the emission-line spectra for underlying stellar absorption. O/H and N/O gas chemical abundances were obtained using the latest empirical calibrations. The effects of cluster environment on the chemical evolution of galaxies and on their mass-metallicity (MZ) and luminosity-metallicity (LZ) relations were studied combining the derived gas metallicities, the mean stellar metallicities and ages, the masses and luminosities of galaxies and their existing HI data. We have found that our Hercules SF galaxies divide into three main subgroups: a) chemically evolved spirals with truncated ionized-gas disks and nearly flat oxygen gradients, witnessing the effect of ram-pressure stripping, b) chemically evolved dwarfs/irregulars populating the highest local densities, possible products of tidal interactions in preprocessing events, or c) less metallic dwarf galaxies which appear to be "newcomers" to the cluster, experiencing pressure-triggered star-formation. Most Hercules SF galaxies follow well defined MZ and LZ sequences (for both O/H and N/O); though the dwarf/irregular galaxies located at the densest regions appear to be outliers to these global relations, suggesting a physical reason for the dispersion in these fundamental relations. The Hercules cluster appears to be currently assembling via the merger of smaller substructures, providing an ideal laboratory where the local environment has been found to be a key parameter to understand the chemical history of galaxies.

Formation and Evolution of Dwarf Galaxies in the CDM Universe

We first review the results of the tidal stirring model for the transformation of gas-rich dwarf irregulars into dwarf spheroidals, which turns rotationally supported stellar systems into pressure supported ones. We emphasize the importance of the combined effect of ram pressure stripping and heating from the cosmic ultraviolet background in removing the gas and converting the object into a gas poor system as dSphs. We discuss how the timing of infall of dwarfs into the primary halo determines the final mass-to-light ratio and star formation history. Secondly we review the results of recent cosmological simulations of the formation of gas-rich dwarfs. These simulations are finally capable to produce a realistic object with no bulge, an exponential profile and a slowly rising rotation curve. The result owes to the inclusion of an inhomogeneous ISM and a star formation scheme based on regions having the typical density of molecular cloud complexes. Supernovae-driven winds become more effective in such mode, driving low angular momentum baryons outside the virial radius at high redshift and turning the dark matter cusp into a core. Finally we show the first tidal stirring experiments adopting dwarfs formed in cosmological simulations as initial conditions. The latter are gas dominated and have have turbulent thick gaseous and stellar disks disks that cannot develop strong bars, yet they are efficiently heated into spheroids by tidal shocks.

Effects of environment on the properties of cluster galaxies via ram pressure stripping

AbstractWe study the effect of ram pressure stripping (RPS) on the colours, cold gas content and star formation of galaxies in clusters, using a combination of N-Body/SPH simulations of galaxy clusters and a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation that includes the effect of RPS.

The origin of the $\langle\mu_{\mathsf e}\rangle$-MB and Kormendy relations in dwarf elliptical galaxies

Aims. The present work is aimed at studying the distribution of galaxies of different types and luminosities along different structural scaling relations to see whether massive and dwarf ellipticals have been shaped by the same formation process. Methods. This exercise is done by comparing the distribution of Virgo cluster massive and dwarf ellipticals and star forming galaxies along the B band effective surface brightness and effective radius vs. absolute magnitude relations and the Kormendy relation to the predictions of models tracing the effects of ram-pressure stripping on disc galaxies entering the cluster environment and galaxy harassment. Results. Dwarf ellipticals might have been formed from low luminosity, late-type spirals that recently entered into the cluster and lost their gas because of a ram-pressure stripping event, stopping their star formation. The perturbations induced by the abrupt decrease of the star formation activity are sufficient to modify the structural properties of disc galaxies into those of dwarf ellipticals. Galaxy harassment induces a truncation of the disc and generally an increase of the effective surface brightness of the perturbed galaxies. The lack of dynamical simulations of perturbed galaxies spanning a wide range in luminosity prevents us from deriving any firm conclusion on a possible harassment-induced origin of the low surface brightness dwarf elliptical galaxy population inhabiting the Virgo cluster. Conclusions. Although the observed scaling relations are consistent with the idea that the distribution of elliptical galaxies along the mentioned scaling relation is due to a gradual variation with luminosity of the Sersic index n, the comparison with models indicates that dwarf ellipticals might have been formed by a totally different process to giant ellipticals.

The galaxy populations from the centers to the infall regions inz ≈ 0.25 clusters

We conducted a panoramic spectroscopic campaign with MOSCA at the Calar Alto observatory. We acquired spectra of more than 500 objects. Approximately 150 of these spectra were of galaxies that are members of six different clusters, which differ in intrinsic X-ray luminosity. The wavelength range allows us to quantify the star formation activity by using the OII and the Halpha lines. This activity is examined in terms of the large-scale environment expressed by the clustercentric distance of the galaxies as well as on local scales given by the spatial galaxy densities. A global suppression of star-formation is detected in the outskirts of clusters, at about 3Rvir. Galaxies with ongoing star-formation have similar activity, regardless of the environment. Therefore, the decline of the star-formation activity inside the investigated clusters is driven mainly by the significant change in the fraction of active versus passive populations. This suggests that the suppression of the star-formation activity occurs on short timescales. We detect a significant population of red star-forming galaxies whose colors are consistent with the red-sequence of passive galaxies. They appear to be in an intermediate evolutionary stage between active and passive types. Since a suppression of star-formation activity is measured at large clustercentric distances and low projected densities, purely cluster-specific phenomena cannot fully explain the observed trends. Therefore, as suggested by other studies, group preprocessing may play an important role in transforming galaxies before they enter into the cluster environment. Since models predict that a significant fraction of galaxies observed in the outskirts may have already transversed through the cluster center, the effects of ram-pressure stripping cannot be neglected. (ABRIDGED)

The effects of ram-pressure stripping on the internal kinematics of simulated spiral galaxies

We investigate the influence of ram-pressure stripping on the internal gas kinematics of simulated spiral galaxies. Additional emphasis is put on the question of how the resulting distortions of the gaseous disc are visible in the rotation curve and/or the full 2D velocity field of galaxies at different redshifts. A Milky-Way type disc galaxy is modelled in combined N-body/hydrodynamic simulations with prescriptions for cooling, star formation, stellar feedback, and galactic winds. This model galaxy moves through a constant density and temperature gas, which has parameters similar to the intra-cluster medium (ICM). Rotation curves (RCs) and 2D velocity fields of the gas are extracted from these simulations in a way that follows the procedure applied to observations of distant, small, and faint galaxies as closely as possible. We find that the appearance of distortions of the gaseous disc due to ram-pressure stripping depends on the direction of the acting ram pressure. In the case of face-on ram pressure, the distortions mainly appear in the outer parts of the galaxy in a very symmetric way. In contrast, in the case of edge-on ram pressure we find stronger distortions. The 2D velocity field also shows signatures of the interaction in the inner part of the disc. At angles smaller than 45 degrees between the ICM wind direction and the disc, the velocity field asymmetry increases significantly compared to larger angles. Compared to distortions caused by tidal interactions, the effects of ram-pressure stripping on the velocity field are relatively low in all cases and difficult to observe at intermediate redshift in seeing-limited observations. (abridged)

The magnetic fields of large Virgo Cluster spirals

Because of its proximity the Virgo Cluster is an excellent target for studying interactions of galaxies with the cluster environment. Both the high-velocity tidal interactions and effects of ram pressure stripping by the intracluster gas can be investigated. Optical and/or \ion{H}{i} observations do not always show effects of weak interactions between galaxies and their encounters with the cluster medium. For this reason we searched for possible anomalies in the magnetic field structure in Virgo Cluster spirals which could be attributed to perturbations in their gas distribution and kinematics. Five angularly large Virgo Cluster spiral galaxies (NGC 4501, NGC 4438, NGC 4535, NGC 4548 and NGC 4654) were the targets for a sensitive total power and polarization study using the 100-m radio telescope in Effelsberg at 4.85 GHz. For two objects polarization data at higher frequencies have been obtained allowing Faraday rotation analysis. Distorted magnetic field structures were identified in all galaxies. Interaction-induced magnetized outflows were found in NGC 4438 (due to nuclear activity) and NGC 4654 (a combination of tidal tails and ram pressure effects). Almost all objects (except the anaemic NGC 4548) exhibit distortions in polarized radio continuum attributable to influence of the ambient gas. For some galaxies they agree with observations of other species, but sometimes (NGC 4535) the magnetic field is the only tracer of the interaction with the cluster environment. The cluster environment clearly affects the evolution of the galaxies due to ram pressure and tidal effects. Magnetic fields provide a very long-lasting memory of past interactions. Therefore, they are a good tracer of weak interactions which are difficult to detect by other observations.

Enrichment of the ICM of galaxy clusters due to ram-pressure stripping

We investigate the impact of galactic mass loss triggered by ram-pressure stripping of cluster galaxies on the evolution of the intra-cluster medium (ICM). We use combined N-body and hydrodynamic simulations together with a phenomenological galaxy formation model and a prescription of the effect of ram-pressure stripping on the galaxies. We analyze the effect of galaxy -- ICM interaction for different model clusters with different masses and different merger histories. Our simulations show that ram-pressure stripping can account for ~ 10% of the overall observed level of enrichment in the ICM within a radius of 1.3 Mpc. The efficiency of metal ejection of cluster galaxies depends at the first few Gyr of the simulation mainly on the cluster mass and is significantly increased during major merger events. Additionally we show that ram-pressure stripping is most efficient in the center of the galaxy cluster and the level of enrichment drops quite fast at larger radii. We present emission weighted metallicity maps of the ICM which can be compared with X-ray observations. The resulting distribution of metals in the ICM shows a complex pattern with stripes and plumes of metal rich material. The metallicity maps can be used to trace the present and past interactions between the ICM and cluster galaxies.

The Nature of the Peculiar Virgo Cluster Galaxies NGC 4064 and NGC 4424

Using extensive kinematical and morphological data on two Virgo Cluster galaxies undergoing strong nuclear star formation, we show that ram pressure stripping and gravitational interactions can act together on galaxies that have recently fallen into clusters. We present a detailed study of the peculiar H I-deficient Virgo Cluster spiral galaxies NGC 4064 and NGC 4424 using 12CO 1-0 interferometry, optical imaging, and integral field spectroscopic observations in order to learn what type of environmental interactions have affected these galaxies. Optical imaging reveals that NGC 4424 has a strongly disturbed stellar disk, with banana-shaped isophotes and shells. NGC 4064, which lies in the cluster outskirts, possesses a relatively undisturbed outer stellar disk and a central bar. In both galaxies H? emission is confined to the central kiloparsec and originates in barlike strings of luminous star-forming complexes surrounded by fainter filaments. Complexes of young blue stars exist beyond the present location of ongoing star formation, indicating rapidly shrinking star-forming disks. Disturbed dust lanes extend out to a radius of 2-3 kpc, much farther than the H? and CO emission detected by us but similar to the blue stellar complexes. CO observations reveal bilobal molecular gas morphologies, with H? emission peaking inside the CO lobes, implying a time sequence in the star formation process. Gas kinematics reveals strong barlike noncircular motions in the molecular gas in both galaxies, suggesting that the material is radially infalling. In NGC 4064 the stellar kinematics reveals strong barlike noncircular motions in the central 1 kpc and stars supported by rotation with V/? > 1 beyond a radius of 15'' (1.2 kpc). On the other hand, NGC 4424 has extremely modest stellar rotation velocities (Vmax ~ 30 km?s-1), and stars are supported by random motions as far out as we can measure, with V/? = 0.6 at r = 18'' (1.4 kpc). The ionized gas kinematics in the core are disturbed and possibly counterrotating. The observations suggest that the peculiarities of NGC 4424 are the result of an intermediate-mass merger plus ram pressure stripping. In the case of NGC 4064, the evidence suggests an already stripped truncated/normal galaxy that recently suffered a minor merger or tidal interaction with another galaxy. Observations of the present star formation rate and gas content suggest that these galaxies will become small-bulge S0s within the next 3 Gyr. We propose that galaxies with truncated/compact H? morphologies such as these are the result of the independent effects of ram pressure stripping, which removes gas from the outer disk, and gravitational interactions such as mergers, which heat stellar disks, drive gas to the central kiloparsec, and increase the central mass concentrations. Together these effects transform the morphology of these galaxies.

The roles of ram-pressure stripping and minor mergers in the evolution of galaxies

We investigate environmental effects on evolution of bright cluster galaxies in a -body simulations and a semi-analytic galaxy formation model. We incorporate effects of ram-pressure stripping (RPS) and minor merger-induced small starburst (minor burst) into our model. By considering minor burst, the observed morphology-radius relation is successfully reproduced. When we do not consider minor burst, the RPS hardly increases the intermediate B/T population. In addition, the RPS and minor burst are not important for colours or star formation rates of galaxies in the cluster core if star formation time-scale is properly chosen, because the star formation is sufficiently suppressed by consumption of the cold gas. We also find that SF in bulge-dominated galaxies is mainly terminated by starburst induced by major mergers in all environments.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html

Environmental Effects on Evolution of Cluster Galaxies

Using a combination of a cosmological N-body simulation and a semi-analytic galaxy formation model, we investigate environmental effects on cluster galaxies with the ACDM cosmology. We find that stripping of hot gas from galacitc halos as they infall into larger objects sufficiently suppresses star formation in the cluster and successfully reproduces the observed gradients of SFR when we normalize our model to reproduce the observed properties of local galaxies. Consequently, the effect of ram-pressure stripping of cold gas from galactic disks becomes quite small and it is observationally negligible. Therefore, the deficiency of galaxies with intermediate bulge-to-disk luminosity ratios under the hierarchical structure formation cannot be resolved even if we include the ram-pressure stripping in our modeling.

Effects of ram pressure stripping on evolution of cluster galaxies

Effects of ram pressure stripping on evolution of cluster galaxies

Effects of Ram Pressure from the Intracluster Medium on the Star Formation Rate of Disk Galaxies in Clusters of Galaxies

Using a simple model of molecular cloud evolution, we have quantitatively estimated the change of star formation rate (SFR) of a disk galaxy falling radially into the potential well of a cluster of galaxies. The SFR is affected by the ram pressure from the intracluster medium (ICM). As the galaxy approaches the cluster center, the SFR increases to twice the initial value, at most, in a cluster with high gas density and a deep potential well, or with a central pressure of ~10-2 cm-3 keV, because the ram pressure compresses the molecular gas of the galaxy. However, this increase does not affect the color of the galaxy significantly. Further into the central region of the cluster (1 Mpc from the center), the SFR of the disk component drops rapidly owing to the effect of ram-pressure stripping. This makes the color of the galaxy redder and makes the disk dark. These effects may explain the observed color, morphology distribution, and evolution of galaxies in high-redshift clusters. By contrast, in a cluster with low gas density and a shallow potential well, or with the central pressure of ~10-3 cm-3 keV, the SFR of a radially infalling galaxy changes less significantly, because neither ram-pressure compression nor stripping is effective. Therefore, the color of galaxies in poor clusters is as blue as that of field galaxies if other environmental effects such as galaxy-galaxy interaction are not effective. The predictions of the model are compared with observations.