The HerschelVirgo Cluster Survey *

Authors :: De Looze, I.
Baes, M.
Zibetti, S.
Fritz, J.
Cortese, L.
Davies, J. I.
Verstappen, J.
Bendo, G. J.
Bianchi, S.
Clemens, M.
Bomans, D. J.
Boselli, A.
Corbelli, E.
Dariush, A.
di Serego Alighieri, S.
Fadda, D.
Garcia-Appadoo, D. A.
Gavazzi, G.
Giovanardi, C.
Grossi, M.
Hughes, T. M.
Hunt, L. K.
Jones, A. P.
Madden, S.
Pierini, D.
Pohlen, M.
Sabatini, S.
Smith, M. W. L.
Vlahakis, C.
Xilouris, E. M.
Source :: Astronomy and Astrophysics; July 2010, Vol. 518 Issue: 10
Publication Year :: 2010
Abstract: We use the science demonstration phase data of the HerschelVirgo Cluster Survey to search for dust emission of early-type dwarf galaxies in the central regions of the Virgo cluster as an alternative way of identifying the interstellar medium. We present the first possible far-infrared detection of cluster early-type dwarf galaxies: VCC 781 and VCC 951 are detected at the 10σlevel in the SPIRE 250 μm image. Both detected galaxies have dust masses of the order of 105$M_\odot$and average dust temperatures ≈20 K. The detection rate (less than 1%) is quite high compared to the 1.7% detection rate for Hiemission, considering that dwarfs in the central regions are more Hideficient. We conclude that the removal of interstellar dust from dwarf galaxies resulting from ram pressure stripping, harassment, or tidal effects must be as efficient as the removal of interstellar gas.

Tools