arXiv subjects

Philippe Amram

Publications and source records attributed to Philippe Amram.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

BUBBLY: A method for detecting and characterizing interstellar bubbles using Fabry-Perot spectroscopy

We present a new method for the detection and characterization of expansion in galaxy discs based on Hα Fabry-Perot spectroscopy, taking advantage of the high spatial and velocity resolution of our instrument (GHαFaS). The method analyses multi-peaked emission line profiles to find expansion along the line of sight on a point-by-point basis. At this stage we have centred our attention on the large scale structures of expanding gas associated with HII regions which show a characteristic pattern of expansion velocities, of order 100 km/s, as a result of both bubble shape and projection effects. We show an example of the expansion map obtained with our method from a superbubble detected in the Antennae galaxies. We use the information obtained from the method to measure the relevant physical parameters of the superbubbles, including their ages which can be used to date young star clusters.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2014

The ratio of pattern speeds in double-barred galaxies

We have obtained two-dimensional velocity fields in the ionized gas of a set of 8 double-barred galaxies, at high spatial and spectral resolution, using their H$α$ emission fields measured with a scanning Fabry-Perot spectrometer. Using the technique by which phase reversals in the non-circular motion indicate a radius of corotation, taking advantage of the high angular and velocity resolution we have obtained the corotation radii and the pattern speeds of both the major bar and the small central bar in each of the galaxies; there are few such measurements in the literature. Our results show that the inner bar rotates more rapidly than the outer bar by a factor between 3.3 and 3.6.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Star-forming regions and the metallicity gradients in the tidal tails: The case of NGC 92

We present new Gemini/GMOS spectroscopic and archival imaging data of the interacting galaxy NGC 92, which is part of a compact group and displays an extended tidal tail. We have studied the physical properties of 20 star-forming complexes in this system. We found that the star-forming regions located in the tidal tail of NGC 92 have ages younger than 8 Myr, which suggests that these objects were formed in situ. The spectroscopic data reveals that these regions have slightly sub-solar metallicities, suggesting that they were formed from pre-enriched material. Using the oxygen abundances derived for each system, we found that the extended tidal tail of NGC 92 has a flat metallicity distribution. Although this scenario is consistent with N-body simulations of interacting systems, where there is gas mixing triggered by the interaction, archival Halpha Fabry-Perot data cubes of NGC 92 have not shown a velocity gradient along the tail of this galaxy, which under certain assumptions could be interpreted as a lack of gas flow in the tail. Our results suggest that a fraction of the enriched gas that was originally located in the center of the galaxy was expelled into the tidal tail when the interacting process that formed the tail happened. However, we can not exclude the scenario in which the star formation in the tail has increased its original oxygen abundance.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

The long lives of giant clumps and the birth of outflows in gas-rich galaxies at high redshift

Star-forming disk galaxies at high redshift are often subject to violent disk instability, characterized by giant clumps whose fate is yet to be understood. The main question is whether the clumps disrupt within their dynamical timescale (<50Myr), like molecular clouds in today's galaxies, or whether they survive stellar feedback for more than a disk orbital time (~300Myr) in which case they can migrate inward and help building the central bulge. We present 3.5-7pc resolution AMR simulations of high-redshift disks including photo-ionization, radiation pressure, and supernovae feedback (Renaud et al. 2013, and Perret et al., this astro-ph issue). Our modeling of radiation pressure determines the mass loading and initial velocity of winds from basic physical principles. We find that the giant clumps produce steady outflow rates comparable to and sometimes somewhat larger than their star formation rate, with velocities largely sufficient to escape galaxy. The clumps also lose mass, especially old stars, by tidal stripping, and the stellar populations contained in the clumps hence remain relatively young (<=200Myr), as observed. The clumps survive gaseous outflows and stellar loss, because they are wandering in gas-rich turbulent disks from which they can re-accrete gas at high rates compensating for outflows and tidal stripping, overall keeping realistic and self-regulated gaseous and stellar masses. Our simulations produce gaseous outflows with velocities, densities and mass loading consistent with observations, and at the same time suggest that the giant clumps survive for hundreds of Myr and complete their migration to the center of high-redshift galaxies, without rapid dispersion and reformation of clumps.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

A galactic weigh-in: mass models of SINGS galaxies using chemospectrophotometric galactic evolution models

The baryonic mass-to-light ratio used to perform the photometry-to-mass conversion has a tremendous influence on the measurement of the baryonic content and distribution, as well as on the determination of the dark halo parameters. Since numerous clues hint at an inside-out formation process for galaxies, a radius-dependant mass-to-light ratio is needed to physically represent the radially varying stellar population. In this article, we use chemo-spectrophotometric galactic evolution (CSPE) models to determine the mass-to-light ratio for a wide range of masses and sizes in the scenario of an inside-out formation process by gas accretion. We apply our method on a SINGS subsample of ten spiral and dwarf galaxies for stellar bands covering from the UV to the MIR. The CSPE models prove to be a good tool to weight the different photometric bands in order to obtain consistent stellar discs' masses regardless of the spectral band used. On the other hand, we show that colour index vs. the mass-to-light ratio relation is an imperfect tool to assign masses to young stellar populations because of the degeneracy affecting mass-to-light ratio in all bands at low colour index. Resulting discs from our analysis are compatible with the maximum disc hypothesis provided that adequate bulge/disc decomposition is performed and correction for the presence of a bar is not neglected since it disturbs the internal disc kinematics. Disc-mass models including mass-to-light ratio-as a free parameter as well as models using our physically motivated radial variation of mass-to-light ratio are presented and discussed for each galaxy.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

The Brazilian Tunable Filter Imager for the SOAR telescope

This paper presents a new Tunable Filter Instrument for the SOAR telescope. The Brazilian Tunable Filter Imager (BTFI) is a versatile, new technology, tunable optical imager to be used in seeing-limited mode and at higher spatial fidelity using the SAM Ground-Layer Adaptive Optics facility at the SOAR telescope. The instrument opens important new science capabilities for the SOAR community, from studies of the centers of nearby galaxies and the insterstellar medium to statistical cosmological investigations. The BTFI takes advantage of three new technologies. The imaging Bragg Tunable Filter concept utilizes Volume Phase Holographic Gratings in a double-pass configuration, as a tunable filter, while a new Fabry-Perot (FP) concept involves technologies which allow a single FP etalon to act over a large range of interference orders and spectral resolutions. Both technologies will be in the same instrument. Spectral resolutions spanning the range between 25 and 30,000 can be achieved through the use of iBTF at low resolution and scanning FPs beyond R ~2,000. The third new technologies in BTFI is the use of EMCCDs for rapid and cyclically wavelength scanning thus mitigating the damaging effect of atmospheric variability through data acquisition. An additional important feature of the instrument is that it has two optical channels which allow for the simultaneous recording of the narrow-band, filtered image with the remaining (complementary) broad-band light. This avoids the uncertainties inherent in tunable filter imaging using a single detector. The system was designed to supply tunable filter imaging with a field-of-view of 3 arcmin on a side, sampled at 0.12" for direct Nasmyth seeing-limited area spectroscopy and for SAM's visitor instrument port for GLAO-fed area spectroscopy. The instrument has seen first light, as a SOAR visitor instrument. It is now in comissioning phase.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2007

Stellar dynamics of blue compact galaxies. II. Further indications of a merger in ESO 338-IG04

Luminous blue compact galaxies, common at z~1 but now relatively rare, show disturbed kinematics in emission lines. As part of a programme to understand their formation and evolution, we have investigated the stellar dynamics of a number of nearby objects in this class. We obtained long-slit spectra with VLT/FORS2 in the spectral region covering the near-infrared calcium triplet. In this paper we focus on the well-known luminous blue compact galaxy ESO 338-IG04 (Tololo 1924-416). A previous investigation, using Fabry-Perot interferometry, showed that this galaxy has a chaotic H-alpha velocity field, indicating that either the galaxy is not in dynamical equilibrium or that H-alpha does not trace the gravitational potential due to feedback from star formation. Along the apparent major axis, the stellar and ionised gas velocities for the most part follow each other. The chaotic velocity field must therefore be a sign that the young stellar population in ESO 338-IG04 is not in dynamical equilibrium. The most likely explanation, which is also supported by its morphology, is that the galaxy has experienced a merger and that this has triggered the current starburst. Summarising the results of our programme so far, we note that emission-line velocity fields are not always reliable tracers of stellar motions, and go on to assess the implications for kinematic studies of similar galaxies at intermediate redshift.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Spiral inflow feeding the nuclear starburst in M83, observed in H-alpha emission with the GHAFAS Fabry-Perot interferometer

We present observations of the nearby barred starburst galaxy, M83 (NGC5236), with the new Fabry-Perot interferometer GHAFAS mounted on the 4.2 meter William Herschel Telescope on La Palma. The unprecedented high resolution observations, of 16 pc/FWHM, of the H-alpha-emitting gas cover the central two kpc of the galaxy. The velocity field displays the dominant disk rotation with signatures of gas inflow from kpc scales down to the nuclear regions. At the inner Inner Lindblad Resonance radius of the main bar and centerd at the dynamical center of the main galaxy disk, a nuclear $5.5 (\pm 0.9) \times 10^8 M_\odot$ rapidly rotating disk with scale length of $60 \pm 20$ pc has formed. The nuclear starburst is found in the vicinity as well as inside this nuclear disk, and our observations confirm that gas spirals in from the outer parts to feed the nuclear starburst, giving rise to several star formation events at different epochs, within the central 100 pc radius of M83.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Dark matter in low mass surface density galaxies

Low mass surface density spiral and irregular galaxies like low surface brightness (LSB) and dwarf galaxies are unique laboratories to study the dynamical properties of Dark Matter halos because their mass is generally dominated by dark matter at all galactocentric radii. We present results from the largest sample ever assembled of high resolution Halpha velocity fields of LSB and dwarf galaxies in order to study their mass distributions.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Kinematics and dynamics of the M51-type galaxy pair NGC 3893/96 (KPG 302)

We study the kinematics and dynamics of the M51-type interacting galaxy pair KPG 302 (NGC 3893/96). We analyse the distribution of the dark matter (DM) halo of the main galaxy in order to explore possible differences between DM halos of "isolated" galaxies and those of galaxies belonging to a pair. The velocity field of each galaxy was obtained using scanning Fabry-Perot interferometry. A two-dimensional kinematic and dynamical analysis of each galaxy and the pair as a whole is done emphasizing the contribution of circular and non-circular velocities. Non-circular motions can be traced on the rotation curves of each galaxy allowing us to differentiate between motions associated to particular features and motions that reflect the global mass distribution of the galaxy. For the main galaxy of the pair, NGC 3893, optical kinematic information is complemented with HI observations from the literature to build a multi-wavelength rotation curve. We try to fit this curve with a mass-distribution model using different DM halos. We find that the multi-wavelength rotation curve of NGC 3893, "cleaned" from the effect of non-circular motions, cannot be fitted neither by a pseudo-isothermal nor by a NFW DM halo.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

From Nearby to High Redshift Compact Group of Galaxies

Nearby Compact Groups of Galaxies (CGs) are very complex systems, tracing their history is a challenge (e.g. Stephan's Quintet). The presence of a diffuse X-rays emission that often peaks in the center of CGs shows that CGs are bound structures, they show numerous signs of interaction but their lifetime in much longer than their crossing times. Hickson CGs clearly show different stages of evolution, from weakly interacting galaxies to merging systems. CGs infalling into clusters may provide a mechanism to form clusters at high redshifts (e.g. in A1367). Massive versions of today's CGs may have been the best candidate precursors of fossil groups. Do CGs mimic the high redshift universe? This is still an open question. Indeed, their high density and low velocity dispersion should induce a high interaction rate and fast merging, CGs are nevertheless long-lived structures. On the other hand, there is probably no (or a few) isolated CGs in the high z universe. CGs may fuel high z clusters, they may produce fossil groups and fossil ellipticals. CGs at high z are difficult to detect and are still to be discovered. Interpretation of distant kinematics of galaxies may need nearby sample of galaxies to disentangle beam-smearing from evolutionary effects (e.g. HCG 31). Beam smearing effects may bias the Tully-Fisher relation (shifted towards lower M/L).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The K luminosity-metallicity relation for dwarf galaxies and the tidal dwarf galaxies in the tails of HCG 31

We determine a K-band luminosity-metallicity (K-Z) relation for dwarf irregular galaxies, over a large range of magnitudes, -20.5 < M_K < -13.5, using a combination of K photometry from either the 2-micron all sky survey (2MASS) or the recent study of Vadivescu er al. (2005), and metallicities derived mainly with the T_e method, from several different studies. We then use this newly-derived relation, together with published K_s photometry and our new spectra of objects in the field of HCG 31 to discuss the nature of the possible tidal dwarf galaxies of this group. We catalogue a new member of HCG 31, namely "R", situated ~40 kpc north of the group center, composed by a ring of H alpha knots which coincides with a peak in HI. This object is a deviant point in the K-Z relation (it has too high metallicity for its luminosity) and its projected distance to the parent galaxy and large gas reservoir makes it one of the most promising tidal dwarf galaxy candidates of HCG 31, together with object F. The subsystems A1, E, F, H and R all have metallicities similar to that of the galaxies A+C and B, result that is expected in a scenario where those were formed from material expelled from the central galaxies of HCG 31. While objects A1, E and H will most probably fall back onto their progenitors, F and R may survive as tidal dwarf galaxies. We find that two galaxies of HCG 31, G and Q, have A+em spectral signatures, and are probably evolving toward a post-starburst phase.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Harmonic analysis of the Ha velocity field of NGC 4254

The ionized gas kinematics of the Virgo Cluster galaxy NGC 4254 (Messier 99) is analyzed by an harmonic decomposition of the velocity field into Fourier coefficients. The aims of this study are to measure the kinematical asymmetries of Virgo cluster galaxies and to connect them to the environment. The analysis reveals significant $m=1,2,4$ terms which origins are discussed.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Multiwavelength Rotation Curves to Test Dark Halo Central Shapes

We use Fabry-Perot Halpha spectroscopy, complemented with published HI radio synthesis observations to derive high resolution rotation curves of spiral galaxies. We investigate precisely their inner mass distribution and compare it to CDM simulations predictions. Having verified the existence of the so-called core-cusp problem, we find that the dark halo density inner slope is related to the galaxy masses. Dwarf galaxies with V_max < 100 km/s have halo density inner slope 0 < γ< 0.7 while galaxies with V_max > 100 km/s are best fitted by γ>= 1.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

GHASP. A 3D Survey of Spiral and Irregular Galaxies at Halpha. Comparison between low and high resolution rotation curves of late-type dwarf galaxies

This survey, once completed, will provide a 3D sample of 200 nearby spiral and irregular galaxies in the Halpha line, using a Fabry-Perot system. The data cubes obtained for each galaxy allow derivation of lines maps, velocity fields and higher momentum. The goals of this survey are: (1) To constitute a 3D local reference. (2) To constrain the mass distribution. (3) To constrain the kinematics and dynamics of the internal regions. A data base will be built in order to provide the whole data to the community. The main result presented in this paper is that, for a sample of 19 late-type dwarfs, the HI rotation curves corrected for beam-smearing effects do not agree with the high resolution ones obtained with hybrid Halpha/HI data. The beam smearing correction done on the HI data is on average too strong. The rotation curves rise even more slowly when using hybrid Halpha/HI data than with HI data alone.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Mass loss from galaxies: feeding the IGM, recycling in the IGM

As a result of internal processes or environmental effects like ram-pressure stripping or collisions, galaxies lose a significant part of their stellar and gaseous content. Whereas the impact of such stripping on galaxy evolution has been well studied, much less attention has been given to the fate of the expelled material in the intergalactic or intracluster medium (IGM/ICM). Observational evidence exists showing that a fraction of the injected matter is actually recycled to form a new generation of galaxies, such as the Tidal Dwarf Galaxies discovered near numerous interacting systems. Using a set of multiwavelength data, we are now able to roughly analyze the processes pertaining to their formation: from an instability in the HI clouds, through the formation of molecular gas, and to the onset of star formation.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Accurate Determination of the Mass Distribution in Spiral Galaxies: II. Testing the Shape of Dark Halos

New high resolution CFHT Fabry-Perot data, combined with published VLA 21 cm observations are used to determine the mass distribution of NGC 3109 and IC 2574. The multi-wavelength rotation curves allow to test with confidence different dark halo functional forms from the pseudo-isothermal sphere to some popular halo distributions motivated by N-body simulations. It appears that density distribution with an inner logarithmic slope <= -1 are very hard to reconcile with rotation curves of late type spirals. Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) is also considered as a potential solution to missing mass and tested the same way. The new higher resolution data show that MOND can reproduce in details the rotation curve of IC 2574 but confirm its difficulty to fit the kinematics of NGC 3109.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Accurate Parameters of the Mass Distribution in Spiral Galaxies: 1. Fabry - Perot Observations of NGC 5585

Using the example of the Sd galaxy NGC 5585, it is shown that high resolution 2-D HII kinematical data are necessary to determine accurately the parameters of the mass distribution in spirals. New CFHT Fabry-Perot Halpha observations are combined with low resolution (20") Westerbork HI data to study its mass distribution. Using the combined rotation curve and best fit models, it can be seen that M/L of the luminous disk goes from 0.3 using only the HI rotation curve, to 0.8 using both the optical and the radio data. This reduces the dark-to-luminous mass ratio in NGC 5585 by ~30% through increasing the dark matter halo core radius by nearly the same amount. This shows the importance of the inner, rising part of the rotation curve for the accurate determination of the parameters of the global mass (luminous & dark) distribution and suggests that such a fine tuning of the rotation velocities using high resolution 2-D HII kinematics is necessary to look at correlations between the parameters of the dark matter component and other properties of galaxies.

astro-ph↗