arXiv subjects

Bililign T. Dullo

Publications and source records attributed to Bililign T. Dullo.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Radio jets in NGC 1068 with e-MERLIN and VLA: structure and morphology

We present new high-sensitivity e-MERLIN and VLA radio images of the prototypical Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 at 5, 10 and 21 GHz. We image the radio jet, from the compact components NE, C, S1 and S2 to the faint double-lobed jet structure of the NE and SW jet lobes. Furthermore, we map the jet between by combining e-MERLIN and VLA data for the first time. Components NE, C and S2 have steep spectra indicative of optically-thin non-thermal emission domination between 5 and 21 GHz. Component S1, which is where the AGN resides, has a flat radio spectrum. We report a new component, S2a, a part of the southern jet. We compare these new data with the MERLIN and VLA data observed in 1983, 1992 and 1995 and report a flux decrease by a factor of 2 in component C, suggesting variability of this jet component. With the high angular resolution e-MERLIN maps, we detect the bow shocks in the NE jet lobe that coincide with the molecular gas outflows observed with ALMA. The NE jet lobe has enough radio power considered to be responsible for driving out the dense molecular gas observed with ALMA around the same region.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

The LeMMINGs survey: probing sub-kpc radio structures of nearby galaxies with e-MERLIN

The Legacy e-MERLIN Multi-band Imaging of Nearby Galaxies survey (LeMMINGs) is a statistically-complete census of nuclear accretion and star formation processes in the local Universe. The LeMMINGs observations at 1.5 and 5 GHz yield angular resolutions on 10s milliarcsecond-scales, with sensitivities of 10s $μ$Jy. Awarded 810 hours of observing time, the full statistical sample (at 1.5 GHz) plus several studies of individual objects have now been published. Combined with multi-wavelength follow up observations, this survey will provide a unique legacy data set of our Galactic back yard. We present an overview of the LeMMINGs results so far, including the 1.5 GHz sample results and associated Chandra X-ray data. We describe the next steps for LeMMINGs to analyse the 5 GHz survey and produce widefield images to categories all radio sources in the LeMMINGs galaxies.

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arXiv2021

A Photometric and Kinematic Analysis of UDG1137+16 (dw1137+16): Probing Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy Formation in a Group Environment

The dominant physical formation mechanism(s) for ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) is still poorly understood. Here, we combine new, deep imaging from the Jeanne Rich Telescope with deep integral field spectroscopy from the Keck II telescope to investigate the formation of UDG1137+16 (dw1137+16). Our new analyses confirm both its environmental association with the low density UGC 6594 group, along with its large size of 3.3 kpc and status as a UDG. The new imaging reveals two distinct stellar components for UDG1137+16, indicating that a central stellar body is surrounded by an outer stellar envelope undergoing tidal interaction. Both the components have approximately similar stellar masses. From our integral field spectroscopy we measure a stellar velocity dispersion within the half-light radius (15 $\pm$ 4 $\mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$) and find that UDG1137+16 is similar to some other UDGs in that it is likely dark matter dominated. Incorporating literature measurements, we also examine the current state of UDG observational kinematics. Placing these data on the central stellar velocity dispersion -- stellar mass relation, we suggest there is little evidence for UDG1137+16 being created through a strong tidal interaction. Finally, we investigate the constraining power current dynamical mass estimates (from stellar and globular cluster velocity dispersions) have on the total halo mass of UDGs. As most are measured within the half-light radius, they are unable to accurately constrain UDG total halo masses.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Ultramassive black holes in the most massive galaxies: $M_{\rm BH}-σ$ versus $M_{\rm BH}-R_{\rm b}$

[Abridged] We investigate the nature of the relations between black hole (BH) mass ($M_{\rm BH}$) and the central velocity dispersion ($σ$) and, for core-Sérsic galaxies, the size of the depleted core ($R_{\rm b}$). Our sample of 144 galaxies with dynamically determined $M_{\rm BH}$ encompasses 24 core-Sérsic galaxies, thought to be products of gas-poor mergers, and reliably identified based on high-resolution HST imaging. For core-Sérsic galaxies -- i.e., combining normal-core ($R_{\rm b} < 0.5 $ kpc) and large-core galaxies ($R_{\rm b} \gtrsim 0.5$ kpc), we find that $M_{\rm BH}$ correlates remarkably well with $R_{\rm b}$ such that $M_{\rm BH} \propto R_{\rm b}^{1.20 \pm 0.14}$ (rms scatter in log $M_{\rm BH}$ of $Δ_{\rm rms} \sim 0.29$ dex), confirming previous works on the same galaxies except three new ones. Separating the sample into Sérsic, normal-core and large-core galaxies, we find that Sérsic and normal-core galaxies jointly define a single log-linear $M_{\rm BH}-σ$ relation $M_{\rm BH} \propto σ^{ 4.88 \pm 0.29}$ with $Δ_{\rm rms} \sim 0.47$ dex, however, at the high-mass end large-core galaxies (four with measured $M_{\rm BH}$) are offset upward from this relation by ($2.5-4) \times σ_{\rm s}$, explaining the previously reported steepening of the $M_{\rm BH}-σ$ relation for massive galaxies. Large-core spheroids have magnitudes $M_{V} \le -23.50$ mag, half-light radii Re $>$ 10 kpc and are extremely massive $M_{*} \ge 10^{12}M_{\odot}$. Furthermore, these spheroids tend to host ultramassive BHs ($M_{\rm BH} \ge 10^{10}M_{\odot}$) tightly connected with their $R_{\rm b}$ rather than $σ$. The less popular $M_{\rm BH}-R_{\rm b}$ relation exhibits $\sim$ 62% less scatter in log $M_{\rm BH}$ than the $M_{\rm BH}- σ$ relations.

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arXiv2020

The (black hole mass)-(color) relations for early- and late-type galaxies: red and blue sequences

[Abridged] Tight correlations between supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass ($M_{\rm BH}$) and the properties of the host galaxy have useful implications for our understanding of the growth of SMBHs and evolution of galaxies. Here, we present newly observed correlations between $M_{\rm BH}$ and the host galaxy total UV$-$ [3.6] color ($\mathcal{C_{\rm UV,tot}}$, Pearson's r = $0.6-0.7$) for a sample of 67 galaxies (20 early-type galaxies and 47 late-type galaxies) with directly measured $M_{\rm BH}$ in the GALEX/S$^{4}$G survey. The colors are carefully measured in a homogeneous manner using the galaxies' FUV, NUV and 3.6 $\micron$ magnitudes and their multi-component structural decompositions in the literature. We find that more massive SMBHs are hosted by (early- and late-type) galaxies with redder colors, but the $M_{\rm BH}- \mathcal{C_{\rm UV,tot}}$ relations for the two morphological types have slopes that differ at $\sim 2 σ$ level. Early-type galaxies define a red sequence in the $M_{\rm BH}- \mathcal{C_{\rm UV,tot}}$ diagrams, while late-type galaxies trace a blue sequence. Within the assumption that the specific star formation rate of a galaxy (sSFR) is well traced by $L_{\rm UV}/L_{\rm 3.6}$, it follows that the SMBH masses for late-type galaxies exhibit a steeper dependence on sSFR than those for early-type galaxies. The $M_{\rm BH}- \mathcal{C_{\rm UV,tot}}$ and $M_{\rm BH}-L_{\rm 3.6,tot}$ relations for the sample galaxies reveal a comparable level of vertical scatter in the log $M_{\rm BH}$ direction, roughly $5\%-27\%$ more than the vertical scatter of the $M_{\rm BH}-σ$ relation. Our $M_{\rm BH}- \mathcal{C_{\rm UV,tot}}$ relations suggest different channels of SMBH growth for early- and late-type galaxies, consistent with their distinct formation and evolution scenarios.

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arXiv2020

Ultra Diffuse Galaxies in the IC1459 Group from the VEGAS Survey

Using deep g,r,i imaging from the VEGAS survey, we have searched for ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in the IC 1459 group. Assuming they are group members, we identify 9 galaxies with physical sizes and surface brightnesses that match the UDG criteria within our measurement uncertainties. They have mean colours of g--i = 0.6 and stellar masses of $\sim$10$^8$ M$_{\odot}$. Several galaxies appear to have associated systems of compact objects, e.g. globular clusters. Two UDGs contain a central bright nucleus, with a third UDG revealing a remarkable double nucleus. This appears to be the first reported detection of a double nucleus in a UDG - its origin is currently unclear.

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arXiv2019

The most massive galaxies with large depleted cores: structural parameter relations and black hole masses

[Abridged] Luminous spheroids (M_V < - 21.50 +- 0.75 mag) contain partially depleted cores with sizes (R_ b) typically 0.02 - 0.5 kpc. However, galaxies with R_b > 0.5 kpc are rare and poorly understood. Here we perform detailed decompositions of the composite surface brightness profiles, extracted from archival Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based images, of 12 extremely luminous "large-core" galaxies that have R_b > 0.5 kpc and M_V < -23.50 +- 0.10 mag, fitting a core-Sérsic model to the galaxy spheroids. Using 28 "normal-core" (i.e., R_b < 0.5 kpc) galaxies and 1 "large-core" (i.e., R_b > 0.5 kpc) galaxy from the literature, we constructed a final sample of 41 core-Sérsic galaxies. We find that large-core spheroids (with stellar masses M_* > 10^12 M_sun) are not simple high-mass extensions of the less luminous normal-core spheroids having M_* ~ 8 x 10^10 - 10^12 M_sun. While the two types follow the same strong relations between the spheroid luminosity L_V and R_b (R_b prop L_V^(1.38 +- 0.13), and the spheroid half-light radius R_e (R_e prop L_V^(1.08 +- 0.09), for ellipticals plus BCGs), we discover a break in the core-Sérsic sigma-L_V relation occurring at M_V ~ -23.50 +- 0.10 mag. Furthermore, we find a strong log-linear R_b-M_BH relation for the 11 galaxies in the sample with directly determined SMBH masses M_BH---3/11 galaxies are large-core galaxies ---such that R_b prop M_BH^(0.83 +- 0.10). However, for the large-core galaxies the SMBH masses estimated from the M_BH-sigma and core-Sérsic M_BH-L relations are undermassive, by up to a factor of 40, relative to expectations from their large R_b values, confirming earlier results. Our findings suggest that large-core galaxies harbour overmassive SMBHs (M_BH > 10^10 M_sun), considerably (~ 3.7-15.6 sigma and ~ 0.6-1.7 sigma) larger than expectations from the spheroid sigma and L, respectively.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

Unveiling the 100 pc scale nuclear radio structure of NGC 6217 with e-MERLIN and the VLA

We present high-sensitivity 1.51 GHz e-MERLIN radio images of the nearby galaxy NGC 6217. We resolve the compact radio source at the centre of NGC 6217 for the first time, finding a twin-lobed structure with a total linear size of ~4 arcsec (~400pc). The radio source does not have a compact central core but there is an unresolved hot spot near the outer edge of the southern lobe. Combining our e-MERLIN data with new VLA A-Array data and archival multi-wavelength data, we explore possible scenarios which might explain this complex radio morphology. We conclude that this radio source is most likely powered by a low-luminosity AGN (LLAGN) but with a possible important contribution from nuclear star formation. We also investigate the origin of a putative X-ray jet in NGC 6217, previously suggested in the literature. This `jet' consists of three X-ray `knots' in a line, pointed away from the nucleus, with a total size of ~3 arcmin (~15 kpc). We find no extended radio emission coincident with the `jet'. An additional compact radio source, aligned with the knots but without an X-ray counterpart is detected. We detect IR/optical sources falling within the X-ray extraction regions of the `knots', but note that these sources could be chance associations due to high source density around the target field and we estimate the probability of three randomly aligned X-ray sources to be 0.3 per cent in this field.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2018

High-resolution MEGARA IFU spectroscopy and structural analysis of a fast-rotating, disky bulge in NGC 7025

Disky bulges in spiral galaxies are commonly thought to form out of disk materials (mainly) via bar driven secular processes, they are structurally and dynamically distinct from `classical bulges' built in violent merger events. We use high-resolution GTC/MEGARA integral-field unit spectroscopic observations of the Sa galaxy NGC 7025, obtained during the MEGARA commissioning run, together with detailed 1D and 2D decompositions of this galaxy's SDSS $i$-band data to investigate the formation of its disky (bulge) component which makes up $\sim 30\%$ of the total galaxy light. With a Sérsic index $n \sim 1.80 \pm 0.24$, half-light radius $R_{\rm e} \sim 1.70 \pm 0.43$ kpc and stellar mass $M_{*} \sim (4.34 \pm 1.70) \times10^{10} M_{\odot}$, this bulge dominates the galaxy light distribution in the inner $R \sim 15"$ ($\sim 4.7$ kpc). Measuring the spins ($λ$) and ellipticities ($ε$) enclosed within nine different circular apertures with radii $R \le R_{\rm e}$, we show that the bulge, which exhibits a spin track of an outwardly rising $λ$ and $ε$, is a fast rotator for all the apertures considered. Our findings suggest that this inner disky component is a pseudo-bulge, consistent with the stellar and dust spiral patterns seen in the galaxy down to the innermost regions but in contrast to the classical bulge interpretation favored in the past. We propose that a secular process involving the tightly wound stellar spiral arms of NGC 7025 may drive gas and stars out of the disk into the inner regions of the galaxy, building up the massive pseudo-bulge.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2018

The nuclear activity and central structure of the elliptical galaxy NGC 5322

We have analysed a new high-resolution e-MERLIN 1.5 GHz radio continuum map together with $HST$ and SDSS imaging of NGC 5322, an elliptical galaxy hosting radio jets, aiming to understand the galaxy's central structure and its connection to the nuclear activity. We decomposed the composite $HST$ + SDSS surface brightness profile of the galaxy into an inner stellar disc, a spheroid, and an outer stellar halo. Past works showed that this embedded disc counter-rotates rapidly with respect to the spheroid. The $HST$ images reveal an edge-on nuclear dust disc across the centre, aligned along the major-axis of the galaxy and nearly perpendicular to the radio jets. After careful masking of this dust disc, we find a central stellar mass deficit $M_{\rm def}$ in the spheroid, scoured by SMBH binaries with final mass $M_{\rm BH}$ such that $M_{\rm def}/M_{\rm BH} \sim 1.3 - 3.4$. We propose a three-phase formation scenario for NGC 5322 where a few ($2-7$) "dry" major mergers involving SMBHs built the spheroid with a depleted core. The cannibalism of a gas-rich satellite subsequently creates the faint counter-rotating disc and funnels gaseous material directly onto the AGN, powering the radio core with a brightness temperature of $T_{\rm B,core} \sim 4.5 \times 10^{7}$ K and the low-power radio jets ($P_{\rm jets}\sim 7.04 \times 10^{20}$ W Hz$^{-1}$) which extend $\sim 1.6$ kpc. The outer halo can later grow via minor mergers and the accretion of tidal debris. The low-luminosity AGN/jet-driven feedback may have quenched the late-time nuclear star formation promptly, which could otherwise have replenished the depleted core.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2017

A remarkably large depleted core in the Abell 2029 BCG IC 1101

We report the discovery of an extremely large (R_b ~ 2"77 ~ 4.2 kpc) core in the brightest cluster galaxy, IC 1101, of the rich galaxy cluster Abell 2029. Luminous core-Sérsic galaxies contain depleted cores---with sizes (R_b) typically 20 - 500 pc---that are thought to be formed by coalescing black hole binaries. We fit a (double nucleus) + (spheroid) + (intermediate-scale component) + (stellar halo) model to the HST surface brightness profile of IC 1101, finding the largest core size measured in any galaxy to date. This core is an order of magnitude larger than those typically measured for core-Sérsic galaxies. We find that the spheroid's V-band absolute magnitude (M_V) of -23.8 mag (~ 25% of the total galaxy light, i.e., including the stellar halo) is faint for the large R_b, such that the observed core is 1.02 dex ~ 3.4 sigma_s (rms scatter) larger than that estimated from the R_ b -M_V relation. The suspected scouring process has produced a large stellar mass deficit (M_def) ~ 4.9 X 10^11 M_sun, i.e., a luminosity deficit ~ 28% of the spheroid's luminosity prior to the depletion. Using IC 1101's black hole mass (M_BH) estimated from the M_BH-$σ$, M_BH-L and M_BH-M_* relations, we measure an excessive and unrealistically high number of dry major mergers for IC 1101 (i.e., $\mathcal{N} \ga 76$) as traced by the large M_def/M_ BH ratios of 38-101. The large core, high mass deficit and oversized M_def/M_ BH ratio of IC 1101 suggest that the depleted core was scoured by overmassive SMBH binaries with a final coalesced mass M_BH ~ (4 -10) X 10^10 M_sun, i.e., ~ (1.7- 3.2) X sigma_s larger than the black hole masses estimated using the spheroid's $σ$, L and M_*. The large core might be partly due to oscillatory core passages by a gravitational radiation-recoiled black hole.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2016

Complex central structures suggest complex evolutionary paths for barred S0 galaxies

We investigate three barred lenticular galaxies (NGC 2681, NGC 3945 and NGC 4371) which were previously reported to have complex central structures but without a detailed structural analysis of these galaxies' high-resolution data. We have therefore performed four- to six-component (pseudo-)bulge/disk/bar/ring/point source) decompositions of the composite (Hubble Space Telescope plus ground-based) surface brightness profiles. We find that NGC 2681 hosts three bars, while NGC 3945 and NGC 4371 are double- and single-barred galaxies, respectively, in agreement with past isophotal analysis. We find that the bulges in these galaxies are compact, and have Sérsic indices of $n\sim 2.2 - 3.6$ and stellar masses of $M_{*}$ $\sim 0.28\times10^{10} - 1.1\times10^{10} M_{\sun}$. NGC 3945 and NGC 4371 have intermediate-scale `pseudo-bulges' that are well described by a Sérsic model with low $n \la 0.5$ instead of an exponential ($n=1$) profile as done in the past. We measure emission line fluxes enclosed within 9 different elliptical apertures, finding that NGC 2681 has a LINER-type emission inside $R \sim 3\arcsec$, but the emission line due to star formation is significant when aperture size is increased. In contrast, NGC 3945 and NGC 4371 have composite (AGN plus star forming)- and LINER-type emissions inside and outside $R \sim 2\arcsec$, respectively. Our findings suggest that the three galaxies have experienced a complex evolutionary path. The bulges appear to be consequences of an earlier violent merging event while subsequent disk formation via gas accretion and bar-driven perturbations may account for the build-up of pseudo-bulges, bars, rings and point sources.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2015

Too big to be real? No depleted core in Holm 15A

Partially depleted cores, as measured by core-Sersic model "break radii", are typically tens to a few hundred parsecs in size. Here we investigate the unusually large (cusp radius of 4.57 kpc) depleted core recently reported for Holm 15A, the brightest cluster galaxy of Abell 85. We model the 1D light profile, and also the 2D image (using GALFIT-CORSAIR, a tool for fitting the core-Sersic model in 2D). We find good agreement between the 1D and 2D analyses, with minor discrepancies attributable to intrinsic ellipticity gradients. We show that a simple Sersic profile (with a low index n and no depleted core) plus the known outer exponential "halo" provide a good description of the stellar distribution. We caution that while almost every galaxy light profile will have a radius where the negative logarithmic slope of the intensity profile equals 0.5, this alone does not imply the presence of a partially depleted core within this radius.

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arXiv2015

Hiding in plain sight: An abundance of compact massive spheroids in the local Universe

It has been widely remarked that compact, massive, elliptical-like galaxies are abundant at high redshifts but exceedingly rare in the Universe today, implying significant evolution such that their sizes at z ~ 2+/-0.6 have increased by factors of 3 to 6 to become today's massive elliptical galaxies. These claims have been based on studies which measured the half-light radii of galaxies as though they are all single component systems. Here we identify 21 spheroidal stellar systems within 90 Mpc that have half-light, major-axis radii R_e < ~2 kpc, stellar masses 0.7x10^{11} < M_*/M_Sun < 1.4x10^{11}, and Sersic indices typically around a value of n=2 to 3. This abundance of compact, massive spheroids in our own backyard - with a number density of 6.9x10^{-6} / Mpc^3 (or 3.5x10^{-5} / Mpc^3 per unit dex in stellar mass) - and with the same physical properties as the high-redshift galaxies, had been over-looked because they are encased in stellar disks which usually result in `galaxy' sizes notably larger than 2 kpc. Moreover, this number density is a lower limit because it has not come from a volume-limited sample. The actual density may be closer to 10^{-4} / Mpc^3, although further work is required to confirm this. We therefore conclude that not all massive `spheroids' have undergone dramatic structural and size evolution since z ~ 2+/-0.6. Given that the bulges of local early-type disk galaxies are known to consist of predominantly old stars which existed at z ~ 2, it seems likely that some of the observed high redshift spheroids did not increase in size by building (3D) triaxial envelopes as commonly advocated, and that the growth of (2D) disks has also been important over the past 9-11 billion years.

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arXiv2014

Core shapes and orientations of core-Sersic galaxies

The inner and outer shapes and orientations of core-Sersic galaxies may hold important clues to their formation and evolution. We have therefore measured the central and outer ellipticities and position angles for a sample of 24 core-Sersic galaxies using archival HST images and data. By selecting galaxies with core-Sersic break radii R_b---a measure of the size of their partially depleted core---that are > 0".2, we find that the ellipticities and position angles are quite robust against HST seeing. For the bulk of the galaxies, there is a good agreement between the ellipticities and position angles at the break radii and the average outer ellipticities and position angles determined over R_e/2 < R < R_e, where R_e is the spheroids' effective half light radius. However there are some interesting differences. We find a median "inner" ellipticity at R_b of e_med = 0.13 +- 0.01, rounder than the median ellipticity of the "outer" regions e_med = 0.20 +- 0.01, which is thought to reflect the influence of the central supermassive black hole at small radii. In addition, for the first time we find a trend, albeit weak (2 sigma significance), such that galaxies with larger (stellar deficit)-to- (supermassive black hole) mass ratios---thought to be a measure of the number of major dry merger events---tend to have rounder inner and outer isophotes, suggesting a connection between the galaxy shapes and their merger histories. We show that this finding is not simply reflecting the well known result that more luminous galaxies are rounder, but it is no doubt related.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2014

Depleted cores, multi-component fits, and structural parameter relations for luminous early-type galaxies

New surface brightness profiles from 26 early-type galaxies with partially depleted cores have been extracted from the full radial extent of HST images, giving us a total sample of 31 such core-Sersic galaxies. We have carefully quantified the radial stellar distributions of the elliptical galaxies using the core-Sersic model whereas for the lenticular galaxies a core-Sersic bulge plus an exponential disc model gives the best representation. We additionally caution about the excessive use of multiple Sersic functions for decomposing galaxies and compare with past fits in the literature. The structural parameters obtained from our fitted models are in general, in good agreement with our initial study using radially limited (R < 10") profiles, and are used here to update several galaxy scaling relations. We find near-linear relations between the break radius R_b and the spheroid luminosity L such that R_b ~ L^(1.13 +/- 0.13), and with the supermassive black hole mass M_BH such that R_b ~ M_BH^(0.83+/- 0.21). This is internally consistent with the notion that major, dry mergers add the stellar and black hole mass in equal proportion, i.e., M_BH ~ L. In addition, we observe a linear relation R_b ~ R_e^(0.98 +/- 0.15) for the core-Sersic elliptical galaxies, where R_e is the galaxies' effective half light radii, which is collectively consistent with the approximately-linear, bright-end of the curved L-R_e relation. Finally, we measure accurate stellar mass deficits M_def that are in general 0.5-4 M_BH, and we identify two galaxies (NGC 1399, NGC 5061) that, due to their high M_def/M_BH ratio, may have experienced oscillatory core-passage by a kicked black hole. The galaxy scaling relations and stellar mass deficits favor core-Sersic galaxy formation through a few `dry' major merger events involving supermassive black holes such that M_def ~ M_BH^(3.70 +/- 0.76), for M_BH > 2 X 10^8 M_sun.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Central Stellar Mass Deficits in the Bulges of Local Lenticular Galaxies, and the Connection with Compact z ~ 1.5 Galaxies

We have used the full radial extent of images from the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 to extract surface brightness profiles from a sample of six, local lenticular galaxy candidates. We have modelled these profiles using a core-Sersic bulge plus an exponential disk model. Our lenticular disk galaxies with bulge magnitudes M_V < ~ -21.30 mag have central stellar deficits, suggesting that these bulges may have formed from `dry' merger events involving supermassive black holes while their surrounding disk was subsequently built up, perhaps via cold gas accretion scenarios. The central stellar mass deficits M_def are roughly 0.5 to 2 M_BH (black hole mass), rather than ~ 10 to 20 M_BH as claimed from some past studies, which is in accord with core-Sersic model mass deficit measurements in elliptical galaxies. Furthermore, these bulges have Sersic indices n ~ 3, half light radii R_e < 2 kpc and masses > 10^11 M_sun, and therefore appear to be descendants of the compact galaxies reported at z ~ 1.5 to 2. Past studies which have searched for these local counterparts by using single-component galaxy models to provide the z ~ 0 size comparisons have over-looked these dense, compact and massive bulges in today's early-type disk galaxies. This evolutionary scenario not only accounts for what are today generally old bulges---which must be present in z ~ 1.5 images---residing in what are generally young disks, but it eliminates the uncomfortable suggestion of a factor of 3 to 5 growth in size for the compact, z ~ 1.5 galaxies that are known to possess infant disks.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Sizing up Partially-Depleted Galaxy Cores

We have modelled the inner surface brightness profiles of 39 alleged `core' galaxies with the core-Sersic model, and provide new physical parameters for the largest ever sample of `core' galaxies fit with this model. When present, additional nuclear components were simultaneously modelled and the typical rms scatter of the fits (out to ~10 arcsec) is 0.02 mag/arcsec^2. Model-independent estimates of each core's break radius are shown to agree with those from the core-Sersic model, and a comparison with the Nuker model is provided. We found an absence of cores in what amounts to 18% of the sample which are reclassified here as Sersic galaxies with low values of n (< ~ 4) and thus shallow inner profile slopes. In general, galaxies with n<3 and sigma < 183 km/s do not have depleted cores. We derive updated relations between core-Sersic break radii, their associated surface brightness, bulge luminosity, central velocity dispersion, and predicted black hole mass for galaxies with depleted cores. With the possible exception of NGC 584, we confirm that the inner negative logarithmic profile slopes gamma are < ~ 0.3 for the `core' galaxies, and 0 > gamma > -0.1 for six of these. Finally, the central stellar mass deficits are found to have values typically within a factor of 4 of the expected central black hole mass.

astro-ph.CO↗