arXiv subjects

Hugo V. Capelato

Publications and source records attributed to Hugo V. Capelato.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The Radial Acceleration Relation in Galaxies and Clusters from a Two-Component, Virial-Motivated Framework

We present a comparative analysis of acceleration data for gravitational systems drawn from multiple observational sources, including: (i) early-type galaxies (ETGs) (Lelli et al. 2017); (ii) Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) and galaxy clusters (Tian et al. 2020, 2024); and (iii) weak gravitational lensing of isolated galaxies (Brouwer et al. 2021; Mistele et al. 2024). These data are interpreted within a framework motivated by the Two-component Virial Theorem (2VT), which defines a global baryon-dark matter (DM) coupling and sets a characteristic acceleration scale. This baseline is complemented by two models that account for the main empirical features of the Radial Acceleration Relation (RAR) over a broad range of masses and accelerations. The Constant-Interaction Approximation Model (CIA) reproduces the observed RAR trends for ETGs, BCGs, and galaxy clusters. It extends earlier results (Dantas et al. 2000, 2018), and accounts for both the small intrinsic scatter and the emergence of a characteristic acceleration scale. At the very low accelerations probed by weak-lensing data (below accelerations of order $10^{-14}~\mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}$), however, this model breaks down. In this regime, the Virial-Motivated Interaction Model (VIM) incorporates the radial structure of the baryon-DM interaction through a local, radius-dependent contribution to the acceleration. Taken together, the 2VT (global scale), the CIA and the VIM provide a physically motivated framework that captures the main empirical features of the RAR.

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arXiv2026

Simulations of collision and sloshing in the galaxy group NGC 5098/5096

The study of galaxy groups is essential to understanding the evolutionary history of large-scale structures in the Universe. These dense environments have a significant impact on galaxy evolution, influencing their gas content, morphology, and star formation activity. In this work we analyse in detail the system NGC~5098$/$5096 composed of two galaxy groups. We performed hydrodynamical $N$-body simulations of a galaxy group collision aimed at reproducing the gas sloshing and surface brightness distribution observed in X-ray data. We conducted a detailed X-ray analysis and generated mock image \textit{Chandra} observations from our simulations. The resulting corrected mock image surface brightness profiles show good agreement with the observed data. The relative line-of-sight velocity between NGC~5098 and NGC~5096 is $v_{\mathrm{los}} = 700$ km s$^{-1}$, with a projected separation of $d_{\mathrm{proj}} = 155$ kpc, suggesting that the collision occurs nearly in the line-of-sight. Our simulations were performed with an inclination angle of $80^\circ$ in order to reproduce the dynamical constraints. We also find a correlation between the dark matter and intragroup light distributions when comparing the residual dark matter map with the intragroup light morphology. Our best-fitting model is consistent with these observational constraints and provides a plausible dynamical scenario for the current state of the NGC~5098 group interaction with NGC 5096.

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arXiv2017

The two-component virial theorem and the acceleration-discrepancy relation

We revisit the "two-component virial theorem" (2VT) in the light of recent theoretical and observational results related to the "dark matter"(DM) problem. This modification of the virial theorem offers a physically meaningful framework to investigate possible dynamical couplings between the baryonic and DM components of extragalactic systems. In particular, we examine the predictions of the 2VT with respect to the "acceleration-discrepancy relation" (ADR). Considering the combined data (composed of systems supported by rotation and by velocity dispersion), we find that: (i) the overall behavior of the 2VT is consistent with the ADR; and (ii) the 2VT predicts a nearly constant behavior in the lower acceleration regime, as suggested in recent data on dwarf spheroidals. We also briefly comment on possible differentiations between the 2VT and some modified gravity theories.

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arXiv2016

Weak lensing and spectroscopic analysis of the nearby dissociative merging galaxy cluster Abell 3376

The galaxy cluster Abell~3376 is a nearby (z=0.046) dissociative merging cluster surrounded by two prominent radio relics and showing an X-ray comet-like morphology. The merger system is comprised of the subclusters A3376W & A3376E. Based on new deep multi-wavelength large-field images and published redshifts, we bring new insights about the history of this merger. Despite the difficulty of applying the weak lensing technique at such low redshift, we successfully recovered the mass distribution in the cluster field. Moreover, with the application of a two-body model, we have addressed the dynamics of these merging system. We have found the individual masses of M_{200}^{W}=3.0_{-1.7}^{+1.3}x10^{14} M_{\odot} and M_{200}^{E}=0.9_{-0.8}^{+0.5}x10^{14} M_{\odot}. The cometary shaped X-ray distribution shows only one peak spatially coincident with both Eastern BCG and the A3376E mass peak whereas the gas content of A3376W seems to be stripped out. Our data allowed us to confirm the existence of a third subcluster located at the North, 1147+-62 kpc apart from the neighbour subcluster A3376E and having a mass M_{200}^{N}=1.4_{-1.0}^{+0.7}x10^{14} M_{\odot}. From our dynamical analysis, we found the merging is taking place very close to the plane of the sky, with the merger axis just 10 deg +-11 deg from it. The application of a two-body analysis code showed that the merging cluster is seen 0.9_{-0.3}^{+0.2} Gyr after the pericentric passage and it is currently going to the point of maximum separation between the subclusters.

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arXiv2015

The structure and dynamics of the AC114 galaxy cluster revisited

We present a dynamical analysis of the galaxy cluster AC114 based on a catalogue of 524 velocities. Of these, 169 (32%) are newly obtained at ESO (Chile) with the VLT and the VIMOS spectrograph. Data on individual galaxies are presented and the accuracy of the measured velocities is discussed. Dynamical properties of the cluster are derived. We obtain an improved mean redshift value z= 0.31665 +/- 0.0008 and velocity dispersion \sigma= 1893+73-82 \kms. A large velocity dispersion within the core radius and the shape of the infall pattern suggests that this part of the cluster is in a radial phase of relaxation with a very elongated radial filament spanning 12000 \kms. A radial foreground structure is detected within the central 0.5/h Mpc radius, recognizable as a redshift group at the same central redshift value. We analyze the color distribution for this archetype Butcher-Oemler galaxy cluster and identify the separate red and blue galaxy sequences. The latter subset contains 44% of confirmed members of the cluster, reaching magnitudes as faint as R_{f}= 21.1 (1.0 magnitude fainter than previous studies). We derive a mass M_{200}= (4.3 \pm 0.7) x 10^15 Msun/h. In a subsequent paper we will utilize the spectral data presented here to explore the mass-metallicity relation for this intermediate redshift cluster.

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arXiv2010

New measurements of radial velocities in clusters of galaxies -- V

As a part of our galaxy-cluster redshift survey, we present a set of 80 new velocities in the 4 clusters Abell 376, Abell 970, Abell 1356, and Abell 2244, obtained at Haute-Provence observatory. This set now completes our previous analysis, especially for the first two clusters. Data on individual galaxies are presented, and we discuss some cluster properties. For A376, we obtained an improved mean redshift = 0.047503$ with a velocity dispersion of \sigma_V = 860 km/s. For A970, we have = 0.058747 with \sigma_V = 881 km/s. We show that the A1356 cluster is not a member of the "Leo-Virgo" supercluster at a mean redshift = 0.112 and should be considered just as a foreground group of galaxies at = 0.0689, as well as A1435 at = 0.062. We obtain = 0.099623 for A2244 with \sigma_V = 965 km/s. The relative proximity of clusters A2244 and A2245 ( = 0.0873816, \sigma_V = 992 km/s) suggests that these could be members of a supercluster that would include A2249; however, from X-ray data there is no indication of interaction between A2244 and A2245.

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arXiv2002

"Fundamental-Plane"-Like Relations From Collisionless Stellar Dynamics: A Comparison of Mergers and Collapses

We present a new set of dissipationless N-body simulations aiming to better understand the pure dynamical aspects of the ``Fundamental Plane'' (FP) of elliptical galaxies. We have extended our previous hierarchical merger scheme by considering the Hernquist profile for the initial galaxy model. Two-component Hernquist galaxy models were also used to study the effect of massive dark halos on the end-products characteristics. We have also performed new collapse simulations including initial spin. We found that the one-component Hernquist mergers give results similar to those found for the one-component King models, namely both were able to build-up small scatter FP-like correlations with slopes consistent with what is found for the near-infrared FP of nearby galaxies. The two-component models also reproduce a FP-like correlation, but with a significantly steeper slope. This is in agreement with what has been found for elliptical galaxies at higher redshift (0.1 $<$ z $<$ 0.6). We discuss some structural properties of the simulated galaxies and their ability to build-up FP-like correlations. We confirm that collapses generally do not follow a FP-like correlation regardless of the initial spin. We suggest that the evolution of gradients in the gravitational field of the merging galaxies may be the main ingredient dictating the final non-homology property of the end products.

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arXiv2002

Dissipationless Collapse of Spherical Protogalaxies and the Fundamental Plane

Following on from the numerical work of Capelato, de Carvalho & Carlberg (1995, 1997), where dissipationless merger simulations were shown to reproduce the "Fundamental Plane" (FP) of elliptical galaxies, we investigate whether the end products of pure, spherically symmetric, one-component dissipationless {\it collapses} could also reproduce the FP. Past numerical work on collisionless collapses have addressed important issues on the dynamical/structural characteristics of collapsed equilibrium systems. However, the study of collisionless collapse in the context of the nature of the FP has not been satisfactorily addressed yet. Our aim in this paper is to focus our attention on the resulting collapse of simple one-component spherical models with a range of different initial virial coefficients. We find that the characteristic correlations of the models are compatible with virialized, centrally homologous systems. Our results strengthen the idea that merging may be a fundamental ingredient in forming non-homologous objects.

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arXiv2000

The Two-Component Virial Theorem and the Physical Properties of Stellar Systems

Motivated by present indirect evidences that galaxies are surrounded by dark matter halos, we investigate whether their physical properties can be described by a formulation of the virial theorem which explicitly takes into account the gravitational potential term representing the interaction of the dark halo with the barionic or luminous component. Our analysis shows that the application of such a ``two-component virial theorem'' not only accounts for the scaling relations displayed, in particular, by elliptical galaxies, but also for the observed properties of all virialized stellar systems, ranging from globular clusters to galaxy clusters.

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arXiv1998

The Evolution of Galaxies in Compact Groups

We present the analysis of the spectra of 62 galaxies in 15 compact groups. The galaxies were classified in four activity classes: galaxies without emission, starburst nucleus galaxies (SBNGs), luminous AGNs and low-luminosity AGNs (LLAGNs). The star formation in the HCG starbursts is more intense than in normal spirals, but comparable to those in the field SBNGs. Their mean gas metallicity is solar and they do not follow the metallicity-luminosity relation traced by the early-type SBNGs in the field, suggesting that most of them are late-type SBNGs. This morphology preference coupled to the observation that the HCG starbursts are predominantly in the halo of the groups is consistent with the idea that compact groups are embedded in sparser structures. The stellar metallicities of the non starburst galaxies are relatively high for their luminosities. In these galaxies the equivalent widths of the metal absorption lines are slightly narrower than normal while the Balmer absorption lines are relatively strong. All these galaxies could be ``post-starburst'' at an advanced stage of evolution. Our observations are supporting a scenario where the core of the groups are slowly collapsing evolved systems embedded in more extended structures (Ribeiro et al. 1998). In the core of the groups, the interactions were more frequent and the galaxies evolved at a more rapid rate than in their halos.

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arXiv1997

The Nature of the Activity in Hickson Compact Groups of Galaxies

We present the results of the spectral classification of the 82 brightest galaxies in a sample of 17 compact groups. We verify that the AGNs are preferentially located in the most early-type and luminous galaxies of the groups, as is usually observed in the field. But these AGNs also appear to be systematically concentrated towards the central parts of the groups. Our observations suggest a correlation between activity types, morphologies and densities of galaxies in the compact groups. This is consistent with a scenario in which galaxies of compact groups evolve by interacting with their environment and are currently in a quiet phase of their activity

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arXiv1997

Evidence of Substructure in the Cluster of Galaxies A3558

We investigate the dynamical properties of the cluster of galaxies A3558 (Shapley 8). Studying a region of one square degree ($\sim$ 3 Mpc$^2$) centered on the cluster cD galaxy, we have obtained a statistically complete photometric catalog with positions and magnitudes of 1421 galaxies (down to a limiting magnitude of $B \sim 21$). This catalog has been matched to the recent velocity data obtained by Mazure et al. (1997) and from the literature, yielding a radial velocity catalog containing 322 galaxies. Our analysis shows that the position/velocity space distribution of galaxies shows significant substructure. A central bimodal core detected previously in preliminary studies is confirmed by using the Adaptive Kernel Technique and Wavelet Analysis. We show that this central bimodal subtructure is nevertheless composed of a projected feature, kinematically unrelated to the cluster, plus a group of galaxies probably in its initial merging phase into a relaxed core. The cD velocity offset with respect to the average cluster redshift, reported earlier by several authors, is completely eliminated as a result of our dynamical analysis. The untangling of the relaxed core component also allows a better, more reliable determination of the central velocity dispersion, which in turn eliminates the ``$β$-problem'' for A3558. The cluster also shows a ``preferential'' distribution of subclumps coinciding with the direction of the major axis position angle of the cD galaxy and of the central X-ray emission ellipsoidal distribution, in agreement with an anisotropic merger scenario.

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