Search

The spatial distribution of the dust and stars contains crucial information about the evolutionary pathways of galaxies. We present results of our study combing high-resolution ALMA and HST observations of z ∼ 2 bright sub-millimeter galaxies (SMGs). We have developed a two-dimensional extinction and age correction technique to obtain accurate stellar mass distributions from HST/CANDELS. For the first time, we can directly compare the spatial distribution of assembled stellar mass and ongoing star formation on kpc scales for distant SMGs, shedding light on their highly debated formation mechanisms. We find that the dust distribution is more compact than the stellar component, regardless if the SMG lies on the main sequence or at the starburst regime. Taking the dust emission as a proxy for dust-obscured star formation, our results imply that high-redshift SMGs are experiencing centrally enhanced star formation. These findings suggests that major galaxy interactions are not necessarily the main formation channel for SMGs with secular disk formation remaining a viable option as suggested by state-of-the-art cosmological simulations. The sizes and stellar densities of our z ∼ 2 SMGs agree well with the most compact early-type galaxies in the local Universe, strongly supporting the idea that the latter systems are indeed the descendants of massive SMGs at z ∼ 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using hydrodynamical simulations of entire galactic discs similar to the Milky Way (MW), reaching $$4.6{\,\rm pc}$$ resolution, we study the origins of observed physical properties of giant molecular clouds (GMCs). We find that efficient stellar feedback is a necessary ingredient in order to develop a realistic interstellar medium, leading to molecular cloud masses, sizes, velocity dispersions, and virial parameters in excellent agreement with MW observations. GMC scaling relations observed in the MW, such as the mass-size (M – R), velocity dispersion-size (σ– R), and the σ– R Σ relations, are reproduced in a feedback-driven ISM when observed in projection, with M ∝ R 2.3 and σ∝ R 0.56. When analysed in 3D, GMC scaling relations steepen significantly, indicating potential limitations of our understanding of molecular cloud 3D structure from observations. Furthermore, we demonstrate how a GMC population's underlying distribution of virial parameters can strongly influence the scatter in derived scaling relations. Finally, we show that GMCs with nearly identical global properties exist in different evolutionary stages, where a majority of clouds being either gravitationally bound or expanding, but with a significant fraction being compressed by external ISM pressure, at all times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermediate surface brightness (ISB) galaxies are less numerous than their counterparts at high and low surface brightness (HSB and LSB). Investigating ISB characteristics from a sample from the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies survey, complete down to MB = -16, we find that they have intermediate stellar, gas and baryonic masses and on average as much gas as stars. They lie on the (baryonic) Tully-Fisher relation between HSBs and LSBs, although they present a higher scatter than the latter. Their stellar to baryonic mass ratios have intermediate values unlike their condensed baryonic fractions. By comparing their environments, as classified by the eigenvalues of the velocity shear tensor of local constrained simulations, ISBs have a 5-10 per cent probability higher (smaller) to be in sheets (filaments) with respect to HSBs and LSBs. Additionally, for galaxies in filaments (with close neighbours), the mass and μ0 are correlated at 2.5 (2)σ more than for those in sheets. ISBs live in regions where the divergence of the velocity field is smaller than where HSBs and LSBs live, a result at more than 50 per cent significance. ISBs may exist as an unstable transition state between LSBs and HSBs, the low flow activity environment maximally encouraging their formation. Interaction events altering the central baryon fraction could happen at a lower rate in these less dense environment, whilst in the higher density environments the LSBs are primarily satellite galaxies, whose accretion is sufficiently constrained that it fails to promote them to HSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Some observations indicate that the MilkyWay has two inner components, a bulge and a long bar, which present a misalignment of Δα≃ 20° that is against the predictions of some theoretical models that are based on numerical simulations. Aims. We wish to determine whether this misalignment between the bar and the bulge can be observed in barred galaxies other than the Milky Way. Methods. Each galaxy of our sample was decomposed based on its Ks-band 2MASS image by fitting and modelling in a threedimensional (3D) space the following components: a disc, a bar, and a bulge. The χ2 goodness-of-fit estimation allowed retrieving the best-fit angle values for the bar and the bulge to detect any misalignment. Results. From the 3D decomposition of six barred galaxies, we have detected at least three galaxies (NGC 2217, NGC 3992, and NGC 4593) that present a significant misalignment between the bar and the bulge of Δα > 20°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present building blocks which can explain the formation and properties both of spirals and of inner and outer rings in barred galaxies. We first briefly summarize the main results of the full theoretical description we have given elsewhere, presenting them in a more physical way, aimed to an understanding without the requirement of extended knowledge of dynamical systems or of orbital structure. We introduce in this manner the notion of manifolds, which can be thought of as tubes guiding the orbits. The dynamics of these manifolds can govern the properties of spirals and of inner and outer rings in barred galaxies. We find that the bar strength affects how unstable the L1 and L2 Lagrangian points are, the motion within the manifold tubes and the time necessary for particles in a manifold to make a complete turn around the galactic centre. We also show that the strength of the bar, or, to be more precise, of the non-axisymmetric forcing at and somewhat beyond the corotation region, determines the resulting morphology. Thus, less strong bars give rise to R1 rings or pseudo-rings, while stronger bars drive and spiral morphologies. We examine the morphology as a function of the main parameters of the bar and present descriptive two-dimensional plots to that avail. We also derive how the manifold morphologies and properties are modified if the L1 and L2 Lagrangian points become stable. Finally, we discuss how dissipation affects the manifold properties and compare the manifolds in gas like and in stellar cases. Comparison with observations as well as clear predictions to be tested by observations will be given in an accompanying paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used the Parkes Multibeam system and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to assemble a sample of 195 galaxies selected originally from their H i signature to avoid biases against unevolved or low surface brightness objects. For each source nine intrinsic properties are measured homogeneously, as well as inclination and an optical spectrum. The sample, which should be almost entirely free of either misidentification or confusion, includes a wide diversity of galaxies ranging from inchoate, low surface brightness dwarfs to giant spirals. Despite this diversity there are five clear correlations among their properties. They include a common dynamical mass-to-light ratio within their optical radii, a correlation between surface brightness and luminosity and a common H i surface density. Such correlation should provide strong constrains on models of galaxy formation and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the dynamics of a model for the late-type barred-spiral galaxy NGC 3359 by using both observational and numerical techniques. The results of our modelling are compared with photometric and kinematical data. The potential used is estimated directly from observations of the galaxy. It describes with a single potential function, a barred-spiral system with an extended spiral structure. Thus, the study of the dynamics in this potential has an interest by itself. We apply orbital theory and response models for the study of the stellar component, and smoothed particle hydrodynamics for modelling the gas. In particular, we examine the pattern speed of the system and the orbital character (chaotic or ordered) of the spiral arms. We conclude that the spiral pattern rotates slowly, in the sense that its corotation is close to or even beyond the end of the arms. Although a single, slow pattern speed could, under certain assumptions, characterize the whole disc, the comparison with the observational data indicates that probably the bar and the spirals have different angular velocities. In our two pattern speeds model, the best fit is obtained with a bar ending close to its 4:1 resonance and a more slowly rotating spiral. Assuming an 11 Mpc distance to the galaxy, a match of our models with the observed data indicates a pattern speed of about for the bar and about for the spiral. We do not find any indication for a chaotic character of the arms in this barred-spiral system. The flow in the region of the spirals can best be described as a regular ‘precessing-ellipses flow’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the shape of 377 rich Abell clusters obtained through the application of the FOCAS package to DSS. The covariance ellipse method is used for description of the cluster shape. We discuss the problem for two samples. The first one contains all galaxies in the considered magnitude range m3, m3 + 3. The second sample contains only the 20 brightest galaxies. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is applied to show that these samples are taken from different populations. Such difference can result due to the different epoch origins of brighter and fainter galaxies in clusters, in accordance with Ambartsumians idea of galaxy formation through violent energetic phenomena in the nuclei of galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galaxy morphologies reflect the shapes of galaxies and their structural components, such as bulges, discs, bars, spiral arms, etc. The detailed knowledge of the morphology of a galaxy provides understanding of the physics behind its evolution, since the time of its formation, including interaction processes and influence of the environment. Thus, the more precisely we can describe a galaxy structure, the more we may understand about its formation and evolution. We present a method that measures curvature, using images, to describe galaxy structure and to infer the morphology of each component of a galaxy. We also include some preliminary results of curvature measurements for galaxies of the Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS) DR1 data release and for jellyfish galaxies of the Omega Survey. We find that the median of the curvature parameter and the integrated area under the curvature give us clues on the morphology of a galaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]