A Virgo Environmental Survey Tracing Ionised Gas Emission (VESTIGE). X. Formation of a red ultra-diffuse galaxy and an almost dark galaxy during a ram-pressure stripping event
Journal
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Junais
•
Boissier, S.
•
Boselli, A.
•
Boquien, M.
•
Longobardi, A.
•
Roehlly, Y.
•
Amram, P.
•
Fossati, M.
•
Cuillandre, J. -C.
•
Gwyn, S.
•
Ferrarese, L.
•
Côté, P.
•
Roediger, J.
•
Lim, S.
•
Peng, E. W.
•
Hensler, G.
•
•
Koda, J.
•
Prantzos, N.
Abstract
Context. The evolution of galaxies depends on their interaction with the surrounding environment. Ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) have been found in large numbers in clusters. We detected a few star-forming blobs in the VESTIGE survey, located at ∼5 kpc from a UDG, namely NGVS 3543, in association with an HI gas cloud AGC 226178, suggesting a recent interaction between this low-surface-brightness system and the surrounding cluster environment.
Aims: We use a complete set of multi-frequency data including deep optical, UV, and narrow-band Hα imaging and HI data to understand the formation process that gave birth to this peculiar system.
Methods: For this purpose, we measured (i) the multi-wavelength radial surface brightness profiles of NGVS 3543 and compared them to the predictions of spectro-photometric models of galaxy evolution in rich clusters; and (ii) the aperture photometry of the blue regions in the vicinity of NGVS 3543 in order to determine their age and stellar mass.
Results: Comparisons of the observations with evolutionary models indicate that NGVS 3543 has undergone a ram-pressure stripping that peaked ∼100 Myr ago, transforming a blue gas-rich UDG into a red gas-poor UDG. Star formation has taken place in the ram pressure stripped gas, the mass of which is ∼108 M⊙, forming star complexes with a typical age of ∼20 Myr and a stellar mass of ∼104 M⊙.
Conclusions: These results suggest that we are observing for the first time the ongoing transformation of a gas-rich UDG into a red and quiescent UDG under the effect of a ram-pressure stripping event. The same process could explain the lack of star-forming UDGs in rich environments observed in several nearby clusters.
Aims: We use a complete set of multi-frequency data including deep optical, UV, and narrow-band Hα imaging and HI data to understand the formation process that gave birth to this peculiar system.
Methods: For this purpose, we measured (i) the multi-wavelength radial surface brightness profiles of NGVS 3543 and compared them to the predictions of spectro-photometric models of galaxy evolution in rich clusters; and (ii) the aperture photometry of the blue regions in the vicinity of NGVS 3543 in order to determine their age and stellar mass.
Results: Comparisons of the observations with evolutionary models indicate that NGVS 3543 has undergone a ram-pressure stripping that peaked ∼100 Myr ago, transforming a blue gas-rich UDG into a red gas-poor UDG. Star formation has taken place in the ram pressure stripped gas, the mass of which is ∼108 M⊙, forming star complexes with a typical age of ∼20 Myr and a stellar mass of ∼104 M⊙.
Conclusions: These results suggest that we are observing for the first time the ongoing transformation of a gas-rich UDG into a red and quiescent UDG under the effect of a ram-pressure stripping event. The same process could explain the lack of star-forming UDGs in rich environments observed in several nearby clusters.
Reduced images are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/650/A99
Based on observations obtained with MegaPrime/MegaCam, a joint project of CFHT and CEA/DAPNIA, at the Canada-French-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) which is operated by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, the Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) of France and the University of Hawaii.
Volume
650
Start page
A99
Issn Identifier
0004-6361
Ads BibCode
2021A&A...650A..99J
Rights
open.access
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
aa40185-20.pdf
Description
Pdf editoriale
Size
4.4 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
4ef75527d1576def46f81c0c2fe2b56f