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H. Bravo-Alfaro

Publications and source records attributed to H. Bravo-Alfaro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2025

Tracing Galaxy Evolution in infalling galaxies of Abell 496: From Starburst to Quenching

During the fall of late-type galaxies into clusters, they can experiment a variety of evolutionary mechanisms according their local environment. Consequently, studying the UV emission and the cold gas of late-type galaxies provide key insights in the evolution of short-lived starburst and galaxy quenching. In this work, we conduted a study of two 28' fields observed with UVIT-AstroSat in the central region of the Abell cluster A496 ($z=0.033$), including HI, data from NRAO VLA. We reported 22 cluster members detected in FUV; all of them are detected in HI, or have upper limits for the HI-mass. We find our FUV detected galaxies generally have higher specific star formation rates than other star forming galaxies. Most of the FUV galaxies with masses above 10$^9 \mathrm{M}_{\odot}$,and showing high sSFR have no close neighbors, pointing at RPS as the dominant mechanism affecting them. In contrast, most of the low-mass FUV objects present at least one companion, suggesting that tidal interactions also play an important role in the triggering of infalling galaxies. Combining the FUV-SFR with the HI properties of the observed galaxies in A496 we identify an evolutionary sequence consisting of five stages: (1) Pre-triggering, (2) Initial SF-triggering, (3) Peak of star-formation, (4) SF-fading, and (5) SF-quenching. During this path, normal gas-rich objects reach a gas-deficiency phase with SFR well below the main sequence. This process, prior to becoming a full passive galaxy, can be accomplished within a few 10$^{8}$ yr.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2022

Environmental cluster effects and galaxy evolution: The HI properties of the Abell clusters A85/A496/A2670

We study the impact of local environment on the transformation of spiral galaxies in three nearby ($z < 0.08$) Abell clusters: A85/A496/A2670. These systems were observed in HI with the Very Large Array, covering a volume extending beyond the virial radius and detecting 10, 58, 38 galaxies, respectively. High fractions (0.40--0.86) of bright spirals [log$(M_{*}/M_{\odot})=9-10$] are not detected in HI. We provide further evidence of environmental effects consisting in significant fractions (0.10--0.33) of abnormal objects and a number of red (passive) spirals, suggesting an ongoing process of quenching. Ram-pressure profiles, and the sample of the brightest spirals used as test particles for environmental effects, indicate that ram-pressure plays an important role in stripping and transforming late-types. Phase-space diagrams and our search for substructures helped to trace the dynamical stage of the three systems. This was used to compare the global cluster effects $vs.$ pre-processing, finding that the former is the dominating mechanism in the studied clusters. By contrasting the global distribution of HI normal $vs.$ HI disturbed spirals in the combined three clusters, we confirm the expected correlation of disturbed objects located, on average, at shorter projected radii. However, individual clusters do not necessarily follow this trend and we show that A496 and A2670 present an atypical behavior. In general we provide conclusive evidence about the dependence of the transformation of infalling spirals on the ensemble of cluster properties like mass, ICM density, dynamical stage and surrounding large-scale structure.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2021

PACT. II. Pressure profiles of galaxy clusters using Planck and ACT

The pressure of hot gas in groups and clusters of galaxies is a key physical quantity, which is directly linked to the total mass of the halo and several other thermodynamical properties. In the wake of previous observational works on the hot gas pressure distribution in massive halos, we have investigated a sample of 31 clusters detected in both the Planck and Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT), MBAC surveys. We made use of an optimised Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) map reconstructed from the two data sets and tailored for the detection of the SZ effect, taking advantage of both Planck coverage of large scales and the ACT higher spatial resolution. Our average pressure profile covers a radial range going from 0.04xR_500 in the central parts to 2.5xR_500 in the outskirts. In this way, it improves upon previous pressure-profile reconstruction based on SZ measurements. It is compatible, as well as competitive, with constraints derived from joint X-ray and SZ analysis. This work demonstrates the possibilities offered by large sky surveys of the SZ effect with multiple experiments with different spatial resolutions and spectral coverages, such as ACT and Planck.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2020

Internal structure of superclusters of galaxies from pattern recognition techniques

The Large-Scale Structure (LSS) of the Universe is a homogeneous network of galaxies separated in dense complexes, the superclusters of galaxies, and almost empty voids. The superclusters are young structures that did not have time to evolve into dynamically relaxed systems through the age of the Universe. Internally, they are very irregular, with dense cores, filaments and peripheral systems of galaxies. We propose a methodology to map the internal structure of superclusters of galaxies using pattern recognition techniques. Our approach allows to: i) identify groups and clusters in the LSS distribution of galaxies; ii) correct for the "fingers of God" projection effect, caused by the partial knowledge of the third space coordinate; iii) detect filaments of galaxies and trace their skeletons. In this paper, we present the algorithms, discuss the optimization of the free parameters and evaluate the results of its application. With this methodology, we have mapped the internal structure of 42 superclusters in the nearby universe (up to $z=0.15$).

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2018

Abell 1367: a high fraction of late-type galaxies displaying HI morphological and kinematic perturbations

To investigate the effects the cluster environment has on Late-Type Galaxies (LTGs) we studied HI perturbation signatures for all Abell 1367 LTGs with HI detections. We used new VLA HI observations combined with AGES single dish blind survey data. Our study indicates that the asymmetry between the high-and low-velocity wings of the characteristic double-horn integrated HI spectrum as measured by the asymmetry parameter, Aflux, can be a useful diagnostic for ongoing and/or recent HI stripping. 26% of A1367 LTGs have an Aflux ratio, more asymmetrical than 3 times the 1σ spread in the Aflux ratio distribution of an undisturbed sample of isolated galaxies (2%) and samples from other denser environments (10% to 20%). Over half of the A 1367 LTGs, which are members of groups or pairs, have an Aflux ratio larger than twice the 1 σ spread found in the isolated sample. This suggests inter-group/pair interactions could be making a significant contribution to the LTGs displaying such Aflux ratios. The study also demonstrates that the definition of the HI offset from the optical centre of LTGs is resolution dependent, suggesting that unresolved AGES HI offsets that are significantly larger than the pointing uncertainties (> 2 σ) reflect interactions which have asymmetrically displaced significant masses of lower density HI, while having minimal impact on the location of the highest density HI in resolved maps. The distribution of Aflux from a comparable sample of Virgo galaxies provides a clear indication that the frequency of HI profile perturbations is lower than in A 1367.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2017

Environmental effects on galaxy evolution. II: quantifying the tidal features in NIR-images of the cluster Abell 85

This work is part of a series of papers devoted to investigate the evolution of cluster galaxies during their infall. In the present article we imaged in NIR a selected sample of galaxies through- out the massive cluster Abell 85 (z = 0.055). We obtained (JHK) photometry for 68 objects, reaching 1 mag/arcsec^2 deeper than 2MASS. We use these images to unveil asymmetries in the outskirts of a sample of bright galaxies and develop a new asymmetry index, alpha_An, which allows to quantify the degree of disruption by the relative area occupied by the tidal features on the plane of the sky. We measure the asymmetries for a subsample of 41 large area objects finding clear asymmetries in ten galaxies, most of them being in groups and pairs projected at different clustercentric distances, some of them located beyond R500 . Combining information on the Hi-gas content of blue galaxies and the distribution of sub-structures across Abell 85, with the present NIR asymmetry analysis, we obtain a very powerful tool to confirm that tidal mechanisms are indeed present and are currently affecting a fraction of galaxies in Abell 85. However, when comparing our deep NIR images with UV-blue images of two very disrupted (jellyfish) galaxies in this cluster, we discard the presence of tidal 1 interactions down to our detection limit. Our results suggest that ram-pressure stripping is at the origin of such spectacular disruptions. We conclude that across a complex cluster like Abell 85, environment mechanisms, both gravitational and hydrodynamical, are playing an active role in driving galaxy evolution.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2015

Highly perturbed molecular gas in infalling cluster galaxies: the case of CGCG97-079

We report on CO (J = 2 - 1) mapping with the IRAM 30-m HERA receiver array of CGCG 97-079, an irregular galaxy in the merging galaxy cluster Abell 1367 (z = 0.022). We find that $\sim$ 80% of the detected CO (J = 2 - 1) is projected within a 16 arcsec$^{2}$ (6.5 kpc$^{2}$) region to the north and west of the optical/NIR centre, with the intensity maximum offset $\sim 10$ arcsec (4 kpc) NW of the optical/NIR centre and $\sim$ 7 arcsec (3 kpc) south-east of the HI intensity maximum. Evolutionary synthesis models indicate CGCG 97-079 experienced a burst of star formation $\sim$ 10$^8$ yr ago, most likely triggered by a tidal interaction with CGCG 97-073. For CGCG 97-079 we deduce an infall velocity to the cluster of $\sim$ 1000 km s$^{-1}$ and moderate ram pressure (P$_\mathrm{ram} \sim 10^{-11}$ dyn cm$^{-2}$). The observed offset in CGCG 97-079 of the highest density HI and CO (J = 2 - 1) from the stellar components has not previously been observed in galaxies currently undergoing ram pressure stripping, although previous detailed studies of gas morphology and kinematics during ram pressure stripping were restricted to significantly more massive galaxies with deeper gravitational potential wells. We conclude the observed cold gas density maxima offsets are most likely the result of ram pressure and/or the high-speed tidal interaction with CGCG 97-073. However ram pressure stripping is likely to be playing a major role in the perturbation of lower density gas.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2012

CO in late-type galaxies within the central region of Abell 1367

We present CO (J = 1 - 0) and CO (J = 2 - 1) spectra for 19 bright, late-type galaxies (spirals) in the central region of the galaxy cluster Abell 1367 (z = 0.02) from observations made with the IRAM 30 - m telescope. All 19 spirals were observed at the position of their optical center and for a subset, at multiple positions. For each spiral the integrated CO (J = 1 - 0) intensity from the central pointing, in few cases supplemented with intensities from offset pointings, was used to estimate its molecular hydrogen mass and H_2 deficiency. Accepting the considerable uncertainties involved in determining H_2 deficiencies, spirals previously identified by us to have redder colours and higher HI deficiencies as a result of environmental influence, were found to be more H_2 deficient compared to members of the sample in less advanced evolutionary states. For eight of the observed spirals multiple pointing observations were made to investigate the distribution of their molecular gas. For these spirals we fitted Gaussians to the CO intensities projected in a line across the galaxy. In two cases, CGCG 097-079 and CGCG 097-102(N), the offset between the CO and optical intensity maxima was significantly larger than the pointing uncertainty and the FWHMs of the fits were significantly greater than those of the other spirals, irrespective of optical size. Both signatures are indicators of an abnormal molecular gas distribution. In the case of CGCG 097-079, which is considered an archetype for ram pressure stripping, our observations indicate the CO intensity maximum lies ~ 15.6 +/- 8.5 arcsec (6 kpc) NW of the optical centre at the same projected position as the HI intensity maximum.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2011

Two long HI tails in the outskirts of Abell 1367

We present VLA D-array HI observations of the RSCG42 and FGC1287 galaxy groups, in the outskirts of the Abell 1367 cluster. These groups are projected ~ 1.8 and 2.7 Mpc west from the cluster centre. The Arecibo Galaxy Environment survey provided evidence for HI extending over as much as 200kpc in both groups. Our new, higher resolution observations reveal that the complex HI features detected by Arecibo are in reality two extraordinary long HI tails extending for ~160 and 250 kpc, respectively, i.e., among the longest HI structures ever observed in groups of galaxies. Although in the case of RSCG42 the morphology and dynamics of the HI tail, as well as the optical properties of the group members, support a low-velocity tidal interaction scenario, less clear is the origin of the unique features associated with FGC1287. This galaxy displays an exceptionally long 'dog leg' HI tail and the large distance from the X-ray emitting region of Abell 1367 makes a ram-pressure stripping scenario highly unlikely. At the same time a low-velocity tidal interaction seems unable to explain the extraordinary length of the tail and the lack of any sign of disturbance in the optical properties of FGC1287. An intriguing possibility could be that this galaxy might have recently experienced a high-speed interaction with another member of the Coma-Abell 1367 Great Wall. We searched for the interloper responsible for this feature and, although we find a possible candidate, we show that without additional observations it is impossible to settle this issue. While the mechanism responsible for this extraordinary HI tail remains to be determined, our discovery highlights how little we know about environmental effects in galaxy groups.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2011

The Bulgeless Seyfert/LINER Galaxy NGC 3367: Disk, Bar, Lopsidedness and Environment

NGC3367 is a nearby isolated active galaxy that shows a radio jet, a strong bar and evidence of lopsidedness. We present a quantitative analysis of the stellar and gaseous structure of the galaxy disk and a search for evidence of recent interaction based on new UBVRI Halpha and JHK images and on archival Halpha Fabry-Perot and HI VLA data. From a coupled 1D/2D GALFIT bulge/bar/disk decomposition an (B/D ~ 0.07-0.1) exponential pseudobulge is inferred in all the observed bands. A NIR estimate of the bar strength = 0.44 places NGC 3367 bar among the strongest ones. The asymmetry properties were studied using (1) optical and NIR CAS indexes (2) the stellar (NIR) and gaseous (Halpha, HI) A_1 Fourier mode amplitudes and (3) the HI integrated profile and HI mean intensity distribution. While the average stellar component shows asymmetry values close to the average found in the Local Universe for isolated galaxies, the young stellar component and gas values are largely decoupled showing significantly larger A_1 mode amplitudes suggesting that the gas has been recently perturbed. Our search for (1) faint stellar structures in the outer regions (up to u_R ~ 26 mag arcsec^{-2}), (2) (Halpha) star-forming satellite galaxies and (3) regions with different colors (stellar populations) along the disk all failed. Such an absence is interpreted using recent numerical simulations to constrain a tidal event with an LMC like galaxy to some dynamical times in the past or to a current very low mass, gas rich accretion. We conclude that a cold accretion mode (gas and small/dark galaxies) may be responsible of the nuclear activity and peculiar (young stars and gas) morphology regardless of the highly isolated environment. Black hole growth in bulgeless galaxies may be triggered by cosmic smooth mass accretion.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2010

Probing Evolutionary Mechanisms in Galaxy Clusters: Neutral Atomic Hydrogen in Abell 1367

We present VLA H I imaging data for a field in the NW of the galaxy cluster Abell 1367 (z = 0.02) in an attempt to probe the effect environment has on the interstellar medium of late-type spiral galaxies. Several galaxies show pronounced tails and asymmetries, and 7 out of 10 show significant, several kpc offsets between the HI centroid and the optical. We compare our results against a sample of optically bright, late-type galaxies (spirals) across the central 1.5 Mpc of the cluster taken from the Arecibo Galaxy Environment Survey (AGES). We calculate the H I deficiency and find that the expected global trend for the H I deficiency of these spirals to increase with projected proximity to the cluster core, seen in clusters like Coma and Virgo, is not observed. We classified the spirals into four evolutionary states, with the galaxies in each state sharing a similar degree of H I deficiency and optical colour. The common characteristics of the spirals in each evolutionary state suggests they have been subject to similar environmental processes. Many of the spirals in the most common evolutionary state (moderate H I deficiency and blue colour) have an H I intensity maximum which is displaced relative to its optical counterpart. The orientation of these offsets and magnitude of their H I deficiencies together with data from other wavelengths provide observational evidence in support of varying degrees of ram pressure stripping and tidal interaction. In general, our results indicate that the H I disks of bright late-type galaxies in the central part of the cluster are subject to both gas loss and morphological disturbance as a result of their interaction with the cluster environment. This provides further observational evidence of a more complex environment in Abell 1367 as compared to Virgo and Coma.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2009

Environmental effects in the cluster Abell 85

Based on a VLA HI-imaging through the total volume of the cluster Abell 85, we compare the distribution of HI-rich and HI deficient late type galaxies with the intra cluster medium (ICM) drawn by the X-ray emission.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2008

Galaxy evolution in Abell 85: I. Cluster substructure and environmental effects on the blue galaxy population

This series of papers explores the evolution of late-type galaxies in the rich cluster Abell 85. Here, we revisit the complex dynamical state of A 85 by using independent methods. We analyze the redshift distribution towards the cluster out to 40,000 km/s, and determine the mean redshifts of the background clusters A 87 and A 89. We then search for substructures in A 85 by considering the 2-D galaxy distribution for its members and by applying the kinematical 3-D Delta-test to both projected positions and radial velocities. This clearly reveals several substructures that we describe. We also analyse the distribution of the brightest blue galaxies across a major fraction of the cluster volume, considering if they are gas-rich or poor. We report a very asymmetric distribution of the blue member galaxies, and connect it with substructures revealed in the optical and X-rays. By matching our sample of bright blue member galaxies with HI detections reported in the literature, we identify gas-rich and gas-poor ones. HI-rich blue galaxies also turn out to be asymmetrically distributed, with most of them projected on the eastern side of the cluster. No blue objects have been detected in HI up to a projected radius of 2 Mpc in this zone. We estimate the ram pressure stripping exerted by the intra-cluster medium as a function of the projected distance from A 85, and quantify how important this mechanism may be in sweeping the gas out of the infalling spirals.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2007

The strong transformation of spiral galaxies infalling into massive clusters at z~0.2

We describe two peculiar galaxies falling into the massive galaxy clusters Abell 1689 (z~0.18) and 2667 (z~0.23) respectively. Hubble Space Telescope images show extraordinary trails composed of bright blue knots (-16.5<M<-11.5 mag) and stellar streams associated with each of these systems. Combining optical, near and mid-infrared and radio observations we prove that while both galaxies show similar extended trails of star-forming knots, their recent star formation histories are different. One (~L*) is experiencing a strong burst of star formation, appearing as a rare example of a luminous infrared cluster galaxy. In comparison, the other (~ 0.1 L*) has recently ceased its star formation activity. Our model suggests that the morphologies and star formation in these galaxies have been influenced by the combined action of tidal interaction (likely with the cluster potential) and of ram pressure with the intracluster medium. These results can be used to gain more insights to the origin of S0s, dwarf and ultra-compact dwarf (UCD) cluster galaxies.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2006

Infrared Surface Brightness Analysis of Galaxies in Compact Groups

Images of 7 Compact groups of galaxies (CG) were obtained using the 2.1m telescope in San Pedro Martir (B.C. Mexico) equipped with the NIR camera CAMILA. The NIR images trace the mass of the galaxies, through the oldest and more evolved stellar populations. The goal of this project is to search for evidence of morphological perturbations correlated with the level of activity (AGN or star formation) of the galaxies. We find that the level of perturbation is well correlated with activity observed in optical spectrocopy (Coziol et al. 2004). Evidence for perturbations decreases from more active groups to less active groups, confirming the classification. Our analysis suggests that galaxies in more active groups are undergoing important transformations due to interaction and merging and that the whole groups is on a merger path. Galaxies in less active CG have gone through similar processes in the recent past and are either in a final merging phase or in equilibrium due to a more massive halo of dark matter.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2003

HI and CO in Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies: Haro 2 and Haro 4

We present VLA HI imaging of two blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies, Haro 2 and Haro 4, and of the spiral galaxy Haro 26, which is projected some 22' SW of Haro 4. We also show a map of the CO(1-0) distribution of Haro 2 obtained with the OVRO millimeter array, as well as derive an upper limit for CO(2-1) emission from Haro 4 obtained with the CSO. The HI data of Haro 2 reveal that the kinematical major axis lies perpendicular to the photometric major axis, indicating that the atomic hydrogen rotates about the major axis of the galaxy. This confirms earlier indications based on CCD photometry that Haro 2 is a dust-lane dE rather than a dIrr. We propose that the present neutral and molecular ISM configuration is due to recent gas accretion or a merger. The HI distribution and dynamics of Haro 4 and the neighboring spiral Haro 26 suggest that they are currently undergoing a tidal interaction, reinforcing the notion that interactions play an important role in triggering the star formation witnessed in Blue Compact Galaxies.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2001

VLA HI Imaging of the brightest spiral galaxies in Coma II. The HI Atlas and deep continuum imaging of selected early type galaxies

In the first paper of this series we used HI observations of the 19 brightest spirals in Coma to analyze the dynamical state of the cluster. In this paper we present the detailed HI distribution and kinematics of the spirals that were detected in HI, and radio continuum data for a sample of star forming and post starburst galaxies in Coma. We discuss the importance of ICM-ISM interactions to explain the observed HI morphology. A rough comparison of observed HI sizes with predicted HI sizes from simulations by Abadi et al. (1999) gives reasonable agreement. We use the results on radio continuum emission to estimate the star formation rate in the PSB galaxies we pointed at. The radio continuum emission in the 11 so called post starburst galaxies, identified by Caldwell et al. (1993) in the cluster, is weak. Eight of the 11 were not detected down to a 3 sigma upper limit of 0.6 mJy. This sets an upper limit to the star formation rate in these galaxies of less than 0.2 solar masses per year. The three detected post starburst galaxies have a star formation rate of less than one solar mass per year. Thus none of the post starburst galaxies in Coma are dust enshrouded starbursts.

astro-ph↗