Galaxy UGC Research Articles

Absorption-line Abundances in the SMC-like Galaxy UGC 5282: Evidence of ISM Dilution from Inflows on Kiloparsec Scales*

Abstract We present a Hubble Space Telescope Cosmic Origins Spectrograph spectrum of the QSO SDSS J095109.12+330745.8 ( ) whose sightline passes through the SMC-like dwarf galaxy UGC 5282 ( , cz = 1577 km s−1), 1.2 kpc in projection from the central H ii region of the galaxy. Damped Lyα (DLA) absorption is detected at the redshift of UGC 5282 with log [N(H i) cm . Analysis of the accompanying S ii, P ii, and O i metal lines yields a neutral gas metallicity, , of [S/H] ≃ [P/H] = −0.80 ± 0.24. The metallicity of ionized gas from the central H ii region measured from its emission lines is [O/H] = −0.37 ± 0.10, a difference of +0.43 ± 0.26 from . This difference δ is consistent with that seen toward H ii regions in other star-forming galaxies and supports the idea that ionized gas near star-forming regions shows systematically higher metallicities than exist in the rest of a galaxy’s neutral interstellar medium (ISM). The positive values of δ found in UGC 5282 (and the other star-forming galaxies) is likely due to infalling low-metallicity gas from the intergalactic medium that mixes with the galaxy’s ISM on kiloparsec scales. This model is also consistent with broad Lyα emission detected at the bottom of the DLA absorption, offset by ∼125 km s−1 from the absorption velocity. Models of galaxy evolution that attempt to replicate population characteristics, such as the mass–metallicity relation, may need to start with a galaxy metallicity represented by rather than that measured traditionally from .

Spatially Resolved Analysis of Neutral Winds, Stars, and Ionized Gas Kinematics with MEGARA/GTC: New Insights on the Nearby Galaxy UGC 10205

We present a comprehensive analysis of the multi-phase structure of the interstellar medium (ISM) and the stellar kinematics in the edge-on nearby galaxy UGC 10205 using integral field spectroscopy (IFS) data taken with MEGARA at the GTC. We explore both the neutral and the ionized gas phases using the interstellar Na ${\small I}$ D doublet absorption (LR$-$V set-up, R $\sim$ 6000) and the H$\alpha$ emission line (HR$-$R set-up, R $\sim$ 18000), respectively. The high-resolution data show the complexity of the H$\alpha$ emission line profile revealing the detection of up to three kinematically distinct gaseous components. Despite of this fact, a thin disk model is able to reproduce the bulk of the ionized gas motions in the central regions of UGC 10205. The use of asymmetric drift corrections is needed to reconciliate the ionized and the stellar velocity rotation curves. We also report the detection of outflowing neutral gas material blueshifted by $\sim$ 87 km s$^{-1}$. The main physical properties that describe the observed outflow are a total mass M$_{out}$ $=$ (4.55 $\pm$ 0.06) $\times$ 10$^{7}$ M$_{\odot}$ and a cold gas mass outflow rate $\dot{M}$$_{out}$ $=$ 0.78 $\pm$ 0.03 M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$. This work points out the necessity of exploiting high-resolution IFS data to understand the multi-phase components of the ISM and the multiple kinematical components in the central regions of nearby galaxies.

A recent starbust in the low surface brightness galaxy UGC 628

ABSTRACT We present the star-formation history of the low surface brightness (LSB) galaxy UGC 628 as part of the MUSCEL program (MUltiwavelength observations of the Structure, Chemistry, and Evolution of LSB galaxies). The star-formation histories of LSB galaxies represent a significant gap in our knowledge of galaxy assembly, with implications for dark matter / baryon feedback, IGM gas accretion, and the physics of star formation in low metallicity environments. Our program uses ground-based IFU spectra in tandem with space-based UV and IR imaging to determine the star-formation histories of LSB galaxies in a spatially resolved fashion. In this work we present the fitted history of our first target to demonstrate our techniques and methodology. Our technique splits the history of this galaxy into 15 semilogarithmically spaced time-steps. Within each time-step the star-formation rate of each spaxel is assumed constant. We then determine the set of 15 star-formation rates that best recreate the spectra and photometry measured in each spaxel. Our main findings with respect to UGC 628 are: (i) the visible properties of UGC 628 have varied over time, appearing as a high surface brightness spiral earlier than 8 Gyr ago and a starburst galaxy during a recent episode of star formation several tens of Myr ago, (ii) the central bar/core region was established early, around 8–10 Gyr ago, but has been largely inactive since, and (iii) star formation in the past 3 Gyr is best characterized as patchy and sporadic.

UGC 1378 – a Milky Way sized galaxy embedded in a giant low surface brightness disc

ABSTRACT The dominant physical processes responsible for the formation and longevity of giant gaseous and stellar discs in galaxies remain controversial. Although they are rare (less than 10 confirmed as of now), giant low-surface brightness (gLSB) discy galaxies provide interesting insights given their extreme nature. We describe observations of UGC 1378 including deep spectroscopy with the Russian 6-m telescope and multiband imaging with Binospec at the MMT. Galaxy UGC 1378 has both high surface brightness and an extended low surface brightness discs. Our stellar velocity dispersion data for the high surface brightness, Milky Way sized, disc appears inconsistent with a recent major merger, a widely discussed formation scenario for the very extended low surface brightness disc. We estimate the star formation rates (SFRs) from archival Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer data. The SFR surface density in the LSB disc is low relative to its gas density, consistent with recent gas accretion. We argue that the unusually large size of UGC 1378’s disc may be the product of a rich gas reservoir (e.g. a cosmic filament) and an isolated environment that has preserved the giant disc.

Searching for signs of jet-driven negative feedback in the nearby radio galaxy UGC 05771

ABSTRACT Hydrodynamical simulations predict that the jets of young radio sources can inhibit star formation in their host galaxies by injecting heat and turbulence into the interstellar medium (ISM). To investigate jet–ISM interactions in a galaxy with a young radio source, we have carried out a multiwavelength study of the z = 0.025 Compact Steep Spectrum radio source hosted by the early-type galaxy UGC 05771. Using Keck/OSIRIS observations, we detected H2 1–0 S(1) and [Fe ii] emission at radii of 100s of parsecs, which traces shocked molecular and ionized gas being accelerated outwards by the jets to low velocities, creating a ‘stalling wind’. At kpc radii, we detected shocked ionized gas using observations from the CALIFA survey, covering an area much larger than the pc-scale radio source. We found that existing interferometric radio observations fail to recover a large fraction of the source’s total flux, indicating the likely existence of jet plasma on kpc scales, which is consistent with the extent of shocked gas in the host galaxy. To investigate the star formation efficiency in UGC 05771, we obtained IRAM CO observations to analyse the molecular gas properties. We found that UGC 05771 sits below the Kennicutt–Schmidt relation, although we were unable to definitively conclude if direct interactions from the jets are inhibiting star formation. This result shows that jets may be important in regulating star formation in the host galaxies of compact radio sources.

SN 2018hna: 1987A-like Supernova with a Signature of Shock Breakout

Abstract High-cadence ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared photometric and low-resolution spectroscopic observations of the peculiar Type II supernova (SN) 2018hna are presented. The early-phase multiband light curves (LCs) exhibit the adiabatic cooling envelope emission following the shock breakout up to ∼ 14 days from the explosion. SN 2018hna has a rise time of ∼ 88 days in the V band, similar to SN 1987A. A 56Ni mass of ∼0.087 ± 0.004 M ⊙ is inferred for SN 2018hna from its bolometric LC. Hydrodynamical modeling of the cooling phase suggests a progenitor with a radius ∼50 R ⊙, a mass of ∼14–20 M ⊙, and an explosion energy of ∼1.7–2.9 × 1051 erg. The smaller inferred radius of the progenitor than a standard red supergiant is indicative of a blue supergiant progenitor of SN 2018hna. A subsolar metallicity (∼0.3 Z ⊙) is inferred for the host galaxy UGC 07534, concurrent with the low-metallicity environments of 1987A-like events.

Peculiar motions of the gas at the centre of the barred galaxy UGC 4056

We derive the circular velocity curves of the gaseous and stellar discs of UGC 4056, a giant barred galaxy with an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We analyse UGC 4056 using the 2D spectroscopy obtained within the framework of the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) survey. Using images and the colour index g − r from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), we determined the tilt of the galaxy, which allows us to conclude that the galaxy rotates clockwise with trailing spiral arms. We found that the gas motion at the central part of the UGC 4056 shows peculiar features. The rotation velocity of the gaseous disc shows a bump within around three kiloparsecs while the rotation velocity of the stellar disc falls smoothly to zero with decreasing galactocentric distance. We demonstrate that the peculiar radial velocities in the central part of the galaxy may be caused by the inflow of the gas towards the nucleus of the galaxy. The unusual motion of the gas takes place at the region with the AGN-like radiation and can be explained by the gas response to the bar potential.

Flaring stellar disk in the low surface brightness galaxy UGC 7321

We theoretically study the vertical structure of the edge-on low surface brightness (LSB) galaxy UGC 7321. This is one of the few well-observed LSBs. We modeled it as a gravitationally coupled disk system of stars and atomic hydrogen gas in the potential of the dark matter halo and treated the realistic case where the rotation velocity varies with radius. We used a dense and compact halo as implied by the observed rotation curve in this model. We calculated the thickness of stellar and HI disks in terms of the half-width at half-maximum of the vertical density distribution in a region ofR = 0–12 kpc using input parameters constrained by observations. We obtain a mildly increasing disk thickness up toR = 6 kpc, in a good agreement with the observed trend, and predict a strong flaring beyond this. To obtain this trend, the stellar velocity dispersion has to fall exponentially at a rate of 3.2RD, while the standard value of 2RDgives a decreasing thickness with radius. Interestingly, both stellar and HI disks show flaring in the outer disk region although they are dynamically dominated by the dark matter halo from the very inner radii. The resulting vertical stellar density distribution cannot be fit by a single sech2/nfunction, in agreement with observations, which show wings at larger distances above the mid-plane. Invoking a double-disk model to explain the vertical structure of LSBs as done in the literature may therefore not be necessary.

Dark matter and H i in ultra-diffuse galaxy UGC 2162

ABSTRACT Our GMRT (Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope) H i observations of the ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG) UGC 2162, projected ∼ 300 kpc from the centre of the M 77 group, reveal it to a have an extended H i disc ($R_{\rm H\,{\small I}}/R_{25}$ ∼ 3.3) with a moderate rotational velocity (Vrot ∼ 31 km s−1). This Vrotis in line with that of dwarf galaxies with similar H i mass. We estimate an Mdyn of ∼1.14 × 109 M⊙ within the galaxy’s $R_ \rm {H\,{\small I}}$ ∼ 5.2 kpc. Additionally, our estimates of M200 for the galaxy from NFW models are in the range of 5.0–8.8 × 1010 M⊙. Comparing UGC 2162 to samples of UDGs with H i detections show it to have amongst the smallest Re with its MH i/M* being distinctly higher and g – icolour slightly bluer than typical values in those samples. We also compared H i and dark matter (DM) halo properties of UGC 2162 with dwarf galaxies in the LITTLE THINGS sample and find its DM halo mass and profile are within the range expected for a dwarf galaxy. While we were unable to determine the origin of the galaxy’s present-day optical form from our study, its normal H i rotation velocity in relation to its H i mass, H i morphology, environment, and dwarf mass DM halo ruled out some of the proposed ultra-diffuse galaxy formation scenarios for this galaxy.

A nuclear ionized gas outflow in the Seyfert 2 galaxy UGC 2024

ABSTRACT As part of a high-resolution observational study of feeding and feedback processes occurring in the vicinity of the active galactic nucleus in 40 galaxies, we observed the inner 3${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$5 × 5 arcsec of the nearby spiral and Seyfert 2 galaxy UGC 2024 with the integral field unit of the Gemini-South Telescope. The observations enabled a study of the stellar and gas kinematics in this region at a spatial resolution of 0${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$5 (218 pc), and a spectral resolution of 36 km s−1 over the wavelength range 4100–7300 Å. For the strongest emission-lines (H β, [$\rm{O\,{\small III}}$] λ5007 Å, H α, [$\rm{N\,{\small II}}$] λ6584 Å, and [$\rm{S\,{\small II}}$] λλ6717,6731 Å) we derived maps of the flux, radial velocity, and velocity dispersion. The flux distribution and kinematics of the [$\rm{O\,{\small III}}$] emission line are roughly symmetric around the nucleus: the radial velocity is close to systemic over the full field of view. The kinematics of the other strong emission lines trace both this systemic velocity component, and ordered rotation (with kinematic centre 0${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$2 north-west of the nucleus). The stellar continuum morphology and kinematics are, however, asymmetrical around the nucleus. We interpret these unusual kinematics as the superposition of a component of gas rotating in the galaxy disc plus a ‘halo’ component of highly ionized gas. This halo either traces a quasi-spherical fountain with average radial velocity 200 km s−1, in which case the total nuclear outflow mass and momentum are 2 × 105 M⊙ and 4 × 107 M⊙ km s−1, respectively, or a dispersion supported halo created by a past nuclear starburst.

A direct test of density wave theory in a grand-design spiral galaxy

The exact nature of the arms of spiral galaxies is still an open question. It has been widely assumed that spiral arms in galaxies with two distinct symmetrical arms are the products of density waves that propagate around the disk, with the spiral arms being visibly enhanced by the star formation that is triggered as the passing wave compresses gas in the galaxy disk. Such a persistent wave would propagate with an approximately constant angular speed, its pattern speed Op. The quasi-stationary density wave theory can be tested by measuring this quantity and showing that it does not vary with radius in the galaxy. Unfortunately, this measurement is difficult because Op is only indirectly connected to observables such as the stellar rotation speed. Here, we use the detailed information on stellar populations of the grand-design spiral galaxy UGC 3825, extracted from spectral mapping, to measure the offset between young stars of a known age and the spiral arm in which they formed, allowing the first direct measure of Op at a range of radii. The offset in this galaxy is found to be as expected for a pattern speed that varies little with radius, indicating consistency with a quasi-stationary density wave, and lending credence to this new method.

MCMC determination of the cosmic UV background atz≃ 0 from H α fluorescence

In a recent paper (Fumagalli et al. 2017) we reported on the detection of a diffuse H$\alpha$ glow in the outskirts of the nearby, edge-on disc galaxy UGC 7321 observed with the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) at the ESO Very Large Telescope. By interpreting the H$\alpha$ emission as fluorescence arising from hydrogen ionised by an external (i.e., extragalactic) radiation field, we estimated the UV background (UVB) intensity in terms of HI ionisation rate (per ion) at $z\simeq 0$ to be in the range $\Gamma_{\rm HI}\sim 6-8\times 10^{-14}$ s$^{-1}$. In the present work, by performing radiative transfer calculations over a large set of models of the gaseous disc of UGC 7321, we refine our estimate and through an MCMC analysis derive a value for the photoionisaton rate of $\Gamma_{\rm HI}=7.27^{+2.93}_{-2.90}\times 10^{-14}$ s$^{-1}$. In particular, our analysis demonstrates that this value is robust against large variations in the galaxy model and that the uncertainties are mainly driven by the errors associated with the observed H$\alpha$ surface brightness. Our measurement is consistent with several recent determinations of the same quantity by a completely independent technique (i.e., flux decrement analysis of the Ly$\alpha$-forest), and support the notion that the low redshift UVB is largely dominated by active galactic nuclei (AGNs), possibly with no need of further contribution from star forming galaxies.

A Malin 1 ‘cousin’ with counter-rotation: internal dynamics and stellar content of the giant low surface brightness galaxy UGC 1922

The formation scenario for giant low surface brightness (gLSB) galaxies with discs as large as 100 kpc still remains unclear. These stellar systems are rare and very hard to observe, therefore a detailed insight on every additional object helps to understand their nature. Here we present a detailed observational study of the gLSB UGC 1922 performed using deep optical imaging and spectroscopic observations combined with archival ultraviolet data. We derived spatially resolved properties of stellar and ionized gas kinematics and characteristics of stellar populations and interstellar medium. We reveal the presence of a kinematically decoupled central component, which counter rotates with respect to the main disc of UGC 1922. The radial metallicity gradient of the ionised gas is in agreement with that found for moderate-size LSB galaxies. At the same time, a slowly rotating and dynamically hot central region of the galaxy hosts a large number of old metal-rich stars, which creates an appearance of a giant elliptical galaxy, that grew an enormous star forming disc. We reproduce most of the observed features of UGC 1922 in N-body/hydrodynamical simulations of an in-plane merger of giant Sa and Sd galaxies. We also discuss alternative formation scenarios of this unusual system.

ASASSN-14dq: a fast-declining Type II-P supernova in a low-luminosity host galaxy

Optical broadband (UBVRI) photometric and low-resolution spectroscopic observations of the type II-P supernova (SN) ASASSN-14dq are presented. ASASSN-14dq exploded in a low-luminosity/metallicity host galaxy UGC 11860, the signatures of which are present as weak iron lines in the photospheric phase spectra. The SN has a plateau duration of $\sim\,$90 d, with a plateau decline rate of 1.38 $\rm mag\ (100 d)^{-1}$ in V-band which is higher than most type II-P SNe. ASASSN-14dq is a luminous type II-P SN with a peak $V$-band absolute magnitude of -17.7$\,\pm\,$0.2 mag. The light curve of ASASSN-14dq indicates it to be a fast-declining type II-P SN, making it a transitional event between the type II-P and II-L SNe. The empirical relation between the steepness parameter and $\rm ^{56}Ni$ mass for type II SNe was rebuilt with the help of well-sampled light curves from the literature. A $\rm ^{56}Ni$ mass of $\sim\,$0.029 M$_{\odot}$ was estimated for ASASSN-14dq, which is slightly lower than the expected $\rm ^{56}Ni$ mass for a luminous type II-P SN. Using analytical light curve modelling, a progenitor radius of $\rm \sim3.6\times10^{13}$ cm, an ejecta mass of $\rm \sim10\ M_{\odot}$ and a total energy of $\rm \sim\,1.8\times 10^{51}$ ergs was estimated for this event. The photospheric velocity evolution of ASASSN-14dq resembles a type II-P SN, but the Balmer features (H$\alpha$ and H$\beta$) show relatively slow velocity evolution. The high-velocity H$\alpha$ feature in the plateau phase, the asymmetric H$\alpha$ emission line profile in the nebular phase and the inferred outburst parameters indicate an interaction of the SN ejecta with the circumstellar material (CSM).

SN 2016X: a type II-P supernova with a signature of shock breakout from explosion of a massive red supergiant

We present extensive ultraviolet (UV) and optical photometry, as well as dense optical spectroscopy for type II Plateau (IIP) supernova SN 2016X that exploded in the nearby ($\sim$ 15 Mpc) spiral galaxy UGC 08041. The observations span the period from 2 to 180 days after the explosion; in particular, the Swift UV data probably captured the signature of shock breakout associated with the explosion of SN 2016X. It shows very strong UV emission during the first week after explosion, with contribution of $\sim$ 20 -- 30% to the bolometric luminosity (versus $\lesssim$ 15% for normal SNe IIP). Moreover, we found that this supernova has an unusually long rise time of about 12.6 $\pm$ 0.5 days in the $R$ band (versus $\sim$ 7.0 days for typical SNe IIP). The optical light curves and spectral evolution are quite similar to the fast-declining type IIP object SN 2013ej, except that SN 2016X has a relatively brighter tail. Based on the evolution of photospheric temperature as inferred from the $Swift$ data in the early phase, we derive that the progenitor of SN 2016X has a radius of about 930 $\pm$ 70 R$_{\odot}$. This large-size star is expected to be a red supergiant star with an initial mass of $\gtrsim$ 19 -- 20 M$_{\odot}$ based on the mass $--$ radius relation of the Galactic red supergiants, and it represents one of the most largest and massive progenitors found for SNe IIP.

First Characterization of the Neutral ISM in Two Local Volume Dwarf Galaxies

Abstract We present the first H i spectral-line images of the nearby, star-forming dwarf galaxies UGC 11411 and UGC 8245, acquired as part of the “Observing for University Classes” program with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). These low-resolution images localize the H i gas and reveal the bulk kinematics of each system. Comparing with Hubble Space Telescope (HST) broadband and ground-based Hα imaging, we find that the ongoing star formation in each galaxy is associated with the highest H i mass surface density regions. UGC 8245 has a much lower current star formation rate than UGC 11411, which harbors very high surface brightness Hα emission in the inner disk and diffuse, lower surface brightness nebular gas that extends well beyond the stellar disk as traced by HST. We measure the dynamical masses of each galaxy and find that the halo of UGC 11411 is more than an order of magnitude more massive than the halo of UGC 8245, even though the H i and stellar masses of the sources are similar. We show that UGC 8245 shares similar physical properties with other well-studied low-mass galaxies, while UGC 11411 is more highly dark matter dominated. Both systems have negative peculiar velocities that are associated with a coherent flow of nearby galaxies at high supergalactic latitude.

The study of two barred galaxies with curious kinematical features

We performed long-slit spectral observations of two SB-type galaxies: NGC 5347, UGC 1344. They were previously suspected as the galaxies with unusually low mass-to-light ratios (on the ground of mass estimates from the Hi linewidths), which are in conflict with their observed colours. The observations were conducted at the Russian 6-m telescope. The aim of the study was to clarify the kinematics and structure, as well as the properties of stellar populations of the galaxies. The results of observations disproved the peculiarly low mass-to-light ratios of both galaxies. The most probable reasons of underestimation of their masses are discussed. We tried to reproduce the main observed features of kinematical profiles of the galaxies in the N-body simulations of barred galaxies. We found that both galaxies possess central components of different structure. Indeed, the age and velocity dispersion of stellar population in NGC 5347 are low in its innermost part in comparison to that of the bulge or a bar, which agrees with the presence of nuclear kinematically decoupled disc. It probably was formed due to the bar which supplied the inner region with gas. The kinematical profiles of the second galaxy UGC 1344 give evidences in favour of the central peanut-shaped bulge. In spite of the different luminosities of the two galaxies, they possess nearly equal (close to solar) central stellar abundance and the flattening of the stellar metallicity gradient in the bar regions. However, in the less luminous NGC 5347 the mean stellar age is younger than that in UGC 1344.

A measurement of the z = 0 UV background from Hα fluorescence

We report the detection of extended Halpha emission from the tip of the HI disk of the nearby edge-on galaxy UGC 7321, observed with the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument at the Very Large Telescope. The Halpha surface brightness fades rapidly where the HI column density drops below N(HI) = 10^19 cm^-2 , consistent with fluorescence arising at the ionisation front from gas that is photoionized by the extragalactic ultraviolet background (UVB). The surface brightness measured at this location is (1.2 +/- 0.5)x10^-19 erg/s/cm^2/arcsec^2, where the error is mostly systematic and results from the proximity of the signal to the edge of the MUSE field of view, and from the presence of a sky line next to the redshifted Halpha wavelength. By combining the Halpha and the HI 21 cm maps with a radiative transfer calculation of an exponential disk illuminated by the UVB, we derive a value for the HI photoionization rate of Gamma ~ (6-8)x10^-14 1/s . This value is consistent with transmission statistics of the Lyalpha forest and with recent models of a UVB which is dominated by quasars.

Shedding Light on the Compton-thick Active Galactic Nucleus in the Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxy UGC 5101 with Broadband X-Ray Spectroscopy

Abstract We report the broadband X-ray spectra of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) UGC 5101 in the 0.25–100 keV band observed with the Swift/Burst Alert Telescope (BAT), Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), Suzaku, XMM-Newton, and Chandra. A Compton-thick active galactic nucleus (AGN) obscured with a hydrogen column density of cm−2 is detected above 10 keV. A spectral fit with a numerical torus model favors a large half-opening angle of the torus, °, suggesting that the covering fraction of material heavily obscuring the X-ray source is moderate. The intrinsic 2–10 keV luminosity is determined to be erg s−1, which is times larger than the previous estimate using only data below 10 keV with a simple spectral model. We find that UGC 5101 shows the ratio between the [O iv] 26 μm line and 2–10 keV luminosities similar to those of normal Seyfert galaxies, along with other ULIRGs observed with NuSTAR, indicating that a significant portion of local ULIRGs are not really “X-ray faint” with respect to the flux of forbidden lines originating from the narrow-line region. We propose a possible scenario that (1) the AGN in UGC 5101 is surrounded not only by Compton-thick matter located close to the equatorial plane but also by Compton-thin ( cm−2) matter in the torus-hole region and (2) it is accreting at a high Eddington rate with a steep UV to X-ray spectral energy distribution. Nevertheless, we argue that AGNs in many ULIRGs do not look extraordinary (i.e., extremely X-ray faint), as suggested by recent works, compared with normal Seyferts.

GLOBULAR CLUSTER SYSTEMS IN BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES. III. BEYOND BIMODALITY

ABSTRACT We present new deep photometry of the rich globular cluster (GC) systems around the Brightest Cluster Galaxies UGC 9799 (Abell 2052) and UGC 10143 (Abell 2147), obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS and WFC3 cameras. For comparison, we also present new reductions of similar HST/ACS data for the Coma supergiants NGC 4874 and 4889. All four of these galaxies have huge cluster populations (to the radial limits of our data, comprising from 12,000 to 23,000 clusters per galaxy). The metallicity distribution functions (MDFs) of the GCs can still be matched by a bimodal-Gaussian form where the metal-rich and metal-poor modes are separated by dex, but the internal dispersions of each mode are so large that the total MDF becomes very broad and nearly continuous from [Fe/H] ≃ −2.4 to solar. There are, however, significant differences between galaxies in the relative numbers of metal-rich clusters, suggesting that they underwent significantly different histories of mergers with massive gas-rich halos. Last, the proportion of metal-poor GCs rises especially rapidly outside projected radii , suggesting the importance of accreted dwarf satellites in the outer halo. Comprehensive models for the formation of GCs as part of the hierarchical formation of their parent galaxies will be needed to trace the systematic change in structure of the MDF with galaxy mass, from the distinctly bimodal form in smaller galaxies up to the broad continuum that we see in the very largest systems.